Right to Clean Air Platform Turkey

Right to Clean Air Platform Turkey (RtCAP) (Turkish: Temiz Hava Hakkı Platformu) is an independent non-governmental organisation exclusively focused on the issue of air pollution in Turkey.[1]

Right to Clean Air Platform Turkey
Temiz Hava Hakkı Platformu
Formation2015
Typenon-governmental organization
Location
  • Turkey
Region served
Turkey
Websitewww.temizhavahakki.com

Objectives

To protect public health RtCAP aims to clean up Turkey's air until it at least meets the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended safe level.[2]

In 2018 RtCAP published 10 policy recommendations for the government:[3]

1) Reliably measure air pollution

2) Legislate to meet WHO air pollution guidelines

3) Include PM 2.5 in the above

4) Release more data to the public

5) Use up to date atmospheric dispersion modeling in environmental impact assessments

6) Introduce health impact assessment

7) Stop subsidizing fossil fuels

See also: Greenhouse_gas_emissions_by_Turkey § Economics

8) Improve legislation to prevent and compensate for air pollution

9) Promote alternatives to polluting activities

See also: Istanbul § Transportation

10) Cooperate between government departments and also with NGOs and professional associations

See also: Climate Change and Air Management Coordination Board (Turkey)

Members

The members of the platform are: CAN Europe, General Practitioner Association of Turkey, Greenpeace Mediterranean, Green Peace Law Association, Green Thought Association, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Physicians for Environment Association, TEMA Foundation (The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats), Turkish Medical Association (TTB), Turkish Neurological Society, Turkish Respiratory Society, Turkish Society of Occupational Health Specialists (İMUD), Turkish Society of Public Health Specialists (HASUDER), Yuva Association, WWF Turkey, 350.org

Work

The platform follows on from Byzantine emperor Justinian I who acknowledged the importance of clean air in 535 AD,[4] and the constitution of the Turkish republic which says that "It is the duty of the State and citizens to improve the natural environment, to protect the environmental health and to prevent environmental pollution.[5]

Coal

In 2019 the platform lobbied parliamentarians to restrict pollution from coal fired power stations in Turkey, and carried out awareness raising and advocacy through the national press. Parliament later voted to restrict this pollution.[6] They also campaign against Turkey's subsidies to coal.

Particulates

The platform is campaigning for Turkey to set a legal limit on the atmospheric fine particulates known as PM 2.5.[3] They state that over 50,000 deaths could have been prevented in 2017 if PM2.5 had been below WHO guidelines.[3]

References
  1. "Partners". Inspire: Health Advocates for Clean Air. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  2. "Air polluted in 56 percent of Turkish provinces: Report – Turkey News". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
  3. Life Beyond Limits “Policy Brief on Air Pollution and Health in Turkey” (PDF). Right to Clean Air Platform Turkey. 2018.
  4. Mosley, Stephen (2014). "Environmental History of Air Pollution and Protection" (PDF).
  5. "Constitution of Turkey" (PDF). global.tbmm.gov.tr. Retrieved 2020-09-20.
  6. "Health and Environment Alliance | Step forward for health protection in Turkey: Proposal to extend the pollution exemptions given to privatised coal power plants withdrawn". Health and Environment Alliance. 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
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