ICI Green Transformation Awards...
- 02.05.2023
- Archive
The climatic crises and environmental disasters that we experience each year demand more ecologically sensitive actions to conserve and sustain the nature in all aspects of life, from production to consumption. In recent years, this matter has become a global concern that requires collective action rather than relying solely on the efforts of individuals, institutions, or nations. So much so that restrictions imposed by the conventions drawn up at the United Nations are agreed upon by all countries.
In this context, one of the most comprehensive and binding global climate agreements on climate change mitigation, adaptation and financing is the Paris Agreement - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, signed by nearly 200 countries, including Türkiye, which entered into force in 2016.
Similarly, the European Union's "Green Deal" emphasizes the expansion and enhancement of the EU's pre-existing efforts to address the climate crisis in a more comprehensive and efficient manner. With this deal, the EU aims to launch a strategy that consolidates Europe's goal of reducing carbon emissions by 55 percent by 2030 and becoming the world's first carbon-neutral continent by 2050.
It is evident that methods disregarding the ecological and climate crisis will quickly become marginalized, as the world progresses in this direction. Global economic and social relations will be largely focused on a platform prioritizing the environment and sustainability.
As the importance of technology-oriented production increases in such a world, it will become a requirement for the industry to become greener, more circular and more digital in order to be globally competitive. It is possible to say that countries taking the initiative in this process and promptly invest are likely to secure their position in the new economic system. In this transformation process based on combating climate change, the policies to be determined will have direct impacts on trade, industry and employment policies as well as technology.
In recent years, as the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, we have been placing significant emphasis on this matter. We formulate our work program within the framework of our sustainability vision. Additionally, we have carried out many activities to raise the awareness of industrialists on the environment, especially with our Environment Branch established in 1987. One of them is undoubtedly our “ICI Green Transformation" awards, which we have been awarding since 1995.
Our assembly meeting coincided with the award ceremony last month, and as you can read in the upcoming pages, we awarded plaques to companies awarded with the "ICI Green Transformation Awards". Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations to all industrial firms that have received these awards for their environmental awareness and efforts to promote green transformation awareness. I hope that they will continue their outstanding and beneficial efforts.
As you know, we are collectively endeavoring to recover from the earthquake's aftermath as a nation. In light of this, I am delighted to report that we are approaching the completion of the "ICI Life City" project in Antakya, which has been made possible thanks to the generous contributions of our industrialists and benefactors.
By the end of April, nearly 900 containers were placed in the ICI Life City, and the items inside the containers, which will enable our guests to continue their lives in comfort, have started to be placed with the support and coordination of AFAD. I am pleased to report that the infrastructure projects in our residential area are almost complete, and we will soon open our container city to welcome our visitors.
Finally, I would like to celebrate May 1 Labor and Solidarity Day for all our employees, one of the most important stakeholders of our business life, and wish you all a peaceful month.
Erdal Bahçıvan
Istanbul Chamber of Industry
Chairman