Pilot Universities Meeting was held at Selcuk University

Selcuk University hosted another important meeting. Sustainable and Climate Friendly Campus Project Pilot Universities Meeting was attended by Higher Education Council (YÖK) President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar and Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Hasan Suver.

The "Cooperation Protocol in the Field of Creating a Sustainable and Climate Friendly Campus" signed between the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, in the first place will be implemented at Bartın University, Ege University, Gazi University, Hacettepe University, Istanbul Technical University  Karabük University, Niğde Ömer Halis Demir University, Middle East Technical University, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Yıldız Technical University and Selçuk University.

In this context, the Sustainable and Climate Friendly Campus Project Pilot Universities Meeting was held at Selçuk University. The meeting was attended by YÖK President Prof. Dr. In addition to Erol Özvar, Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Hasan Suver, Deputy Chairman of YÖK Prof. Dr. Cevahir Uzkurt, Member of the Executive Board of YÖK Prof. Dr. Naci Gündoğan, Member of the Executive Board of YÖK Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Karaman, Rector of Selcuk University, Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy, Rector of Istanbul Technical University Prof. Dr. İsmail Koyuncu, Yıldız Technical University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Yılmaz, Gazi University Rector Prof. Dr. Musa Yıldız, Hacettepe University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cahit Güran, Rector of Ege University Prof. Dr. Necdet Budak, Middle East Technical University Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Verşan Kök, Rector of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Prof. Dr. Hamdullah Şevli, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Uslu, Rector of Bartın University Prof. Dr. Orhan Uzun, Deputy Rector of Karabuk University Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yaşar, the representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.

“SELÇUK UNIVERSITY THE LEADING UNIVERSITY OF THE REGION”

Stating that the World Health Organization announced that the biggest threat to global health in the 21st century is not Covid-19, ebola or obesity, but climate change, Selçuk University Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy said, “As Selcuk University, we are trying to fulfill our responsibility in this regard, we are trying to create awareness in our own area of responsibility by focusing on the 'Green Campus' and 'Zero Waste' issues. With the improvements we have made, more than 6 million square meters of our 11 million square meter Campus area has been turned into green space. 57 percent of our campus consists of green areas. Such a figure is well ahead of many of the world's leading universities. In addition to the greening works, zero waste warehouses that you can see throughout the campus and in all our buildings, the electric vehicles we have brought to our campus, the security drone that allows security patrols by reducing the carbon footprint, the energy analyzer installed in all the buildings on the campus and increasing the efficiency in energy use are some of the studies carried out at our University in this regard. With these achievements, Selçuk University concretely demonstrates that it is the leading university of the region.”

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT"

Head of the Department of Energy Efficiency and Environment (EVCED) of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Dr. Abdullah Buğrahan Karaveli said, “As we see our universities as universities that will shape the future of Turkey, where our young people will receive practice and education together, we have carried out valuable studies so far. The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources will continue to provide support in terms of R&D and implementation and in facilities to be established for training.”

“ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY, THE SINGLE POINT WHERE HUMANITY MEETS”

Hasan Suver, Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, stated that man is the only creature that establishes civilization, and said, “Civilizations were founded on the relationship between human-human and human-nature. We need to be creatures that contribute to nature. They are not creatures that disturb nature. Man, the only living thing that changes the conditions, is faced with a great crisis that tries to destroy us with great causes caused by human hands such as floods, fires, winds, storms, drought, thirst, which threaten human beings, which we unfortunately call the climate crisis today, by changing nature in their favor (against) with technology. day by day, we come face to face step by step. There is only one point where all humanity meets: environmental sensitivity.”

“CLIMATE CHANGE IS THE COMMON ISSUE OF ALL HUMANITY”

Pointing out that climate change is a common issue for all humanity, regardless of national or international level, President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar said, “For this reason, the struggle to be put forward against the negative effects of climate change is the struggle of all humanity. With our higher education institutions, the number of which has increased in the last 20 years, universities all over our country function as a small city. Universities and campus environments; It affects the environment through many activities and activities such as air and water pollution, waste, and the use of hazardous chemicals. Universities have a very important contribution to environmental education, sustainability and ecological awareness through education and research. For this reason, universities have the capacity to contribute significantly to sustainability in terms of education and research, providing support services, energy and material consumption, and taking measures against environmental pollution. Universities have an important role to play in promoting a green economic campus as the center of knowledge transformation, technological development and innovation and leading the way in the fight against climate change. Universities play a central role in producing innovative knowledge about the causes and effects of climate change, the measures that can be taken against them, and green technologies that can implement these measures. In order to carry out the adaptation and mitigation processes to be exhibited within the scope of combating climate change effectively, developed economies have declared that they will provide certain financial assistance to developing and underdeveloped economies. In this context, it seems possible for Turkey to receive funds to combat climate change in an amount exceeding $3.1 billion annually. On the other hand, universities may have certain roles in both the provision and use of these funds.”

“WE ARE PLANNING TO EXPAND THE EXPERIENCE WE HAVE GAINED TO ALL OUR UNIVERSITIES”

Stating that as the Council of Higher Education, they have taken important steps on issues of critical importance on a national and international scale, Prof. Dr. Özvar said, “We are aware that the physical conditions, natural environmental characteristics and sustainability of universities are very important. For this reason, we attach great importance to the steps to be taken against the negative consequences of climate change, and we resolutely fulfill our duty of coordination in the development of adaptation processes. We are carrying out the Sustainable and Climate Friendly Campus Project, which we have implemented as a reflection of this determination, with our 11 Pilot Universities. The current status of our 11 universities selected as pilots in the field of zero waste, energy efficiency and renewable energy sources was evaluated. In today's meeting, in which the rectors and relevant coordinators of our Pilot Universities as well as the representatives of our Ministries are present, a road map for the coming period will also be determined under the coordination of the Higher Education Council. Through the commissions to be formed with the participation of our university and ministry representatives, we will continue our work, primarily on legislation and financial issues, in line with the goal of a Sustainable and Climate Friendly Campus. In the next stages of our project, we plan to extend the experience we gained from our Pilot Universities to all our universities.”

RENEWABLE ENERGY APPLICATIONS WILL BE INCREASED

With the "Cooperation Protocol in the Field of Creating a Sustainable and Climate Friendly Campus", it is aimed to create campuses that are sustainable, energy efficient, compatible with nature and cause minimal harm to the environment, to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy applications in university campuses, and to carry out studies to raise awareness and awareness in this area. In addition, efforts are made to ensure efficient and effective use of energy resources and energy in universities,it is also targeted to prevent waste and to ensure the use of renewable energy, to alleviate the burden of energy costs on the budget, to expand zero waste practices, to protect the environment, and to support universities in accessing the necessary financial tools in the process of sustainable and climate-friendly campus transformation.

At the end of the meeting, Selcuk University Rector Prof. Dr. Metin Aksoy Özvar presented the work, which was applied in the classical miniature technique on textured paper, with watercolor and 22 kt gold, “The Master Ata Complex” in the Miniature Workshop of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Turkish Arts to Chairman of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Prof. Dr. Erol