Locality Background
Turkey is a country situated on the border of Western Asia and Europe; four seas wash its shores, and it boasts numerous resort areas. It is an industrial country with numerous well-developed manufacturing facilities. However, Turkey cannot be called sustainable; one of the biggest concerns in the state is the increased pollution of air, water, and streets. Istanbul is the country’s largest metropolitan area in terms of population (Edelman, 2021). It is the central manufacturing and trading city, as well as the main port of Turkey. Istanbul has many enterprises whose activities inevitably affect the environment and people’s health. Many tourists are disappointed that the seas in the recreation areas are heavily polluted.
A Deeper Look into Sustainability
Industrial enterprises pollute the environment with all kinds of harmful emissions. Six regions of Turkey are already characterized as high-risk areas. Deforestation significantly exacerbates the crisis, which affects climate change and air pollution. Toxic effluents from manufacturers pollute the coastal seas.
There is a big issue regarding oil pollution caused by the heavy traffic of tankers passing through the Bosphorus. Many oil products with harmful chemical compounds spill out onto Turkish coasts, causing an environmental crisis. Swimming is not recommended on the beaches of Istanbul as heavy metals and radioactive waste harm unprotected human skin (Edelman, 2021). The government advised residents to refrain from fishing, and environmentalists concluded that the number of fish living in the Black Sea has significantly decreased.
The Biggest Concern
The metropolis is a central transport hub in Turkey, through which all the roads and railways pass. Istanbul suffers from severe traffic congestion, largely due to the high number of cars and industrial vehicles (Smith, 2020). Many autos run on contaminated diesel fuel, which poisons the air.
In the case of water in the Bosphorus and the Black Sea, residents can still take some measures to protect themselves, but air quality is an absolute ultimatum matter. Currently, the state is urgently attempting to resolve this issue. However, the constant influx of immigrants and residents from other parts of the country only exacerbates the problems of traffic congestion and air pollution.
Sustainability Practices
Many industrial enterprises and residential buildings have been heated with coal because it is the cheapest fuel. The city government provides low-income families with coal to heat their homes. However, combustion products contain sulfur particles that are hazardous to health. Some companies are currently switching to natural gas to reduce environmental damage. The government is attempting to address this issue by establishing a network of gas stations to monitor the presence of harmful substances. All station data comes online, allowing environmentalists to correct statistics on the topic.
The authorities are also solving the problem of a large amount of industrial waste at the bottom of the Bosphorus. Divers occasionally attempt to clear the channel’s bottom of trash (Smith, 2020). Unfortunately, these measures are not enough to objectively eliminate the ecological crisis, but they are a significant step towards establishing sustainable norms.
Potential Sustainable Measures for Istanbul
One of the most critical tasks is to directly inform the population about the current environmental situation in the city and its potential consequences. Garbage in the Bosphorus is a result of residents’ negligence and tourists’ indifference. A reasonable penalty should be imposed for individuals who neglect the well-being of the environment.
Changing to cleaner energy sources, such as natural gas, must address air pollution. Working in conditions of cars and uncontrolled emigration is difficult because it involves personal choices made by each individual in this case. However, the state can implement more sustainable programs to involve people in the collective effort to improve the environment. Awareness and responsibility are the primary mechanisms for addressing this issue.
References
Edelman, D. (2021) Managing the urban environment of Istanbul, Turkey. Current Urban Studies, 9, 107-125. Web.
Smith, B. (2020). Turkey: Environmental issues, policies and clean technology. AZoCleantech. Web.