​​ Green and Recycling Universities Reduce Their Carbon Footprints

The universities supported by the Council of Higher Education with the Climate Friendly Campus Project contribute to the ecological system with their scientific projects and practices, as well as their efforts to protect the environment and raise environmental awareness.

81 Turkish universities are among the top one thousand universities in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings. These universities lead the way in reducing their carbon footprints and creating an ecological system by generating their own clean energy, recycling waste, and carrying out many activities related to the green environment.

CoHE President Özvar: "We must take measures against common environmental problems of humankind with the participation of all stakeholders. We continue to work towards creating sustainable, energy-efficient, nature-compatible and environmentally friendly campuses."

The Council of Higher Education changed its logo to green for Türkiye Environment Week and World Environment Day.

June 5, 2023

The Turkish universities, which are encouraged by the Council of Higher Education with the Sustainable and Climate-Friendly Campus Project, are leading the way in reducing the carbon footprints and creating a sustainable system with many activities, practices and scientific projects they carry out, especially afforestation works.

In his statement on the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5, CoHE President Erol Özvar pointed to the problems arising from climate change. He stated that problems such as drought, floods and water scarcity affected the whole world and emphasized that it was important to take measures with the participation of all stakeholders against these common problems of humankind. He stated that they continued their efforts to create sustainable, energy-efficient, nature-compatible and environmentally friendly campuses and encouraged the increase of energy efficiency and renewable energy practices at universities.

Özvar stated that the works to be carried out at universities were of particular importance and said, "Turkish universities have the capacity to contribute to a sustainable life. They play a major role in combating these problems through research, projects and education. We attach great importance to the steps to be taken against the adverse consequences of climate change."

In order to draw attention to the goal of a greener and cleaner Türkiye and to raise awareness on this issue, the Council of Higher Education changed its logo to green for Türkiye Environment Week and World Environment Day.

11 pilot universities carry out studies

The majority of universities in Türkiye have solar energy systems on their campuses. Universities that produce their own energy also minimize energy consumption with applications such as sensor lighting, energy-saving light bulbs, building insulation, and ambient temperature control. In addition, many universities have composting facilities that enable waste to be recycled under the 'Zero Waste' campaign.

In the field of higher education, studies are carried out in different areas related to climate change and the environment. The most important of these is the work within the scope of the "Cooperation Protocol on Creating a Sustainable and Climate-Friendly Campus" signed with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources on October 4, 2022 at the Council of Higher Education. Bartın University, Ege University, Gazi University, Hacettepe University, Istanbul Technical University, Karabük University, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Middle East Technical University, Selçuk University, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University and Yıldız Technical University, which were determined as pilot universities to combat the adverse consequences of climate change, carry out studies under the protocol.

At Düzce University, which is designated as a "specialized university" on the environment, studies are carried out within a scientific framework.

According to the 2022 data of the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, which is an international platform on sustainability and environmental awareness that determines the world's greenest universities, 81 universities from Türkiye are among the first thousand universities in the world.

Environmental practices and projects of universities

Each university in Türkiye draws attention with its projects and practices as well as many activities related to the environmentally harmless disposal of earthquake zone wastes, reducing the use of plastics, sorting wastes according to their types, and preventing environmental pollution. Some of these projects and practices are as follows:

· Dokuz Eylül University carried out studies on the removal, disposal and management of debris wastes after the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş. The Sustainability Office established at Dokuz Eylül University monitors the university's activities in the areas of space use, energy consumption, waste and water management, transportation, education and research, and works to improve them.

· METU installed rooftop solar power plants on faculty and dormitory buildings. Benches with solar-powered charging units were placed in various parts of the campus to reduce the carbon footprint. Through the computerized monitoring, control and automation system created for central heating systems and local boilers, the university saves up to 50 percent in natural gas use annually.

· The Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Complex at Marmara University produces its own clean energy. It treats and uses rainwater. The Complex, which is an example for the green campuses of the future, produces zero waste.

· Selçuk University, which has the 431st greenest campus in the world, produces an average of 65 thousand plants annually in its greenhouses. Approximately 20 kinds of plants are utilized at Alaeddin Keykubat Campus. The university put seven electric vehicles into service to minimize carbon emissions on campus.

· The Renewable Energy and Climate Change Club at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University organizes laboratory and factory trips to support clean energy research.

· Non-carcinogenic and biodegradable plastic material was developed at Hitit University within the scope of the "Production of Cellulose and Additive PLA Bioplastics with Graphene from Renewable Biomasses Project".

· Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University is establishing a solar power plant that will meet all the electricity needs of the campus.

· "Edible Landscape Garden" and "Campus Orchard" consisting of fruits, vegetables, medicinal aromatic and ornamental plants were created on the Campus of the Çaycuma Food-Agriculture Vocational School at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University.

· Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, which prepared a special website and logo on sustainability, established a Sustainability Committee and Sustainability Research Group to coordinate the planning of sustainability activities, monitoring their implementation throughout the university and updating them in communication with stakeholders.

· Nuh Naci Yazgan University supported the Plastic Cover Project of the Spinal Cord Paralytics Association of Türkiye.

· Eskişehir Technical University launched the Green Collars of the Future Project to increase the environmental awareness of primary school children.

· Yozgat Bozok University takes measures against drought with "water harvesting". The pools and artificial ponds created to minimize the effects of drought on the university campus in summer are filled with water harvest.

· The Environmental Problems, Clean Production Research Center at Giresun University organized the ecological literacy courses for students.

· The Climate Change Research Center was established at Iskenderun Technical University.

· "International Global Warming Conference" will be hosted by Haliç University on June 14-16, 2023.

· As part of a project on climate change led by Bartın University, a map of Türkiye's water scarcity and land degradation was prepared. The project, which aims to reduce the risks of floods and droughts caused by climate change, is supported by the United Nations Development Program. In addition, the university has been carrying out a project to contribute to the economy by transforming the waste solutions released during paper production into valuable chemicals.

· The Faculty of Forestry at Çankırı Karatekin University has a Research and Application Forest located in the transition zone from the Central Anatolian steppe ecosystem to the Black Sea ecosystem. The forest, which is predicted to be affected by the consequences of climate change in the future, contributes to scientific studies due to its location.

· At Karabük University, which is a pilot university in the Climate Friendly Campus Project of the Council of Higher Education, studies on climate and environment are carried out scientifically and systematically. Digital and electronically signed documents and forms are used to reduce paper consumption, measures are implemented to minimize the amount of food thrown away in cafeterias, waste oils are collected in accordance with the legislation, and electronic waste is disposed of safely.

· Within the scope of the Renewable Youth Energy European Union Project carried out in cooperation with Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Balıkesir University and South Marmara Development Agency, training and application laboratories were established in renewable energy fields (wind, solar and biogas).

· Cappadocia University, which created a website on Climate Crisis Awareness, makes live broadcasts on its YouTube channel to raise awareness on sustainability.

· Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University has a Compost Production Facility. The machine, which is operated in cooperation with the Agriculture High School on campus, produces 60 tons of compost per year and is used as fertilizer in the green areas of the campus. The university has the title of a university specializing in energy storage.

· Izmir Institute of Technology establishes the Wind Energy Meteorology and Environmental Research Center. The research center will serve as a national and independent testing and analysis center in Izmir, home to more than half of the installed wind power plant capacity in Türkiye.

· Free bicycle service is provided to all students, academic and administrative staff on Başkent University Campus. In addition, scooter stations are established and their use is encouraged. There are also solar-powered charging stations on the campus.

· Rüçhan Keçeci, a lecturer in the Department of Fine Arts of the Faculty of Education at Fırat University, has been producing sculptures, tables, chairs, benches and different 3D designs from waste metal and iron in his workshop at the university for the past 15 years.

· Free bicycle use service is provided on the campus of Antalya Bilim University. There are 42 courses on sustainability at the university.

· The Coordinator's Office for Sustainable Campus at Bursa Uludağ University organized an event for the Electrical and Electronic Waste Collection Day.

· At Gümüşhane University, activities are carried out under the titles of "Campus Settlement and Infrastructure", "Energy and Climate Change", "Waste Management", "Water Management", and "Transportation and Education".

· With the Manavbank Project at Çukurova University, vegetables and fruits purchased from markets, volunteers and neighborhood markets are distributed free of charge to students at the booths.

· Kütahya University of Health Sciences conducted studies on the recycling of collected waste oils into soap and biodiesel. The soaps were distributed to the participants after one of the organizations of the Music Club.

· The Projects ‘Digital Farmer’ and ‘Future Bio’ that aim to develop and use digital technology and educational materials were developed at Pamukkale University.

· Ondokuz Mayıs University won a silver medal at the 8th Istanbul International Invention Fair with the Project ‘A Composite Material Made of Waste Tire Rubber and Hemp and its Production Method’. The university’s Tanyeli Rocket Team, which aims to minimize waste in agricultural irrigation with the irrigation method and plant water consumption system, made an important design by manufacturing a machine that produces water from moisture in the air.

· A garbage collection event will be held in front of Beytepe Shopping Center at Hacettepe University on Monday, June 5, 2023 with the participation of Rector Prof. Mehmet Cahit Güran.

· The Climate and Energy Club of Biruni University organized an event in Adalar on June 4, 2023 to collect the garbage dumped in the environment.

· Kastamonu University, which won 16 zero waste certificates in the field of sustainability, conducts forest management, rehabilitation projects, erosion control, water resources management and biodiversity research.

· Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, the winner of the Zero Waste Best Practice Award, provides the lighting of its campus using the hydrogen energy system with its environmentally friendly energy generation activities carried out as part of Green Energy.

· Afyonkarahisar University of Health Sciences created a 100-decare "AFSU Medicinal and Aromatic Plants R&D Forest" for the plantation of woody, shrub and herbaceous plants with high added value.

· All materials used in the Exhibition "Don't Throw it Away. Turn it into Art" organized at Sivas Cumhuriyet University were designed using waste products.

· Istanbul Medeniyet University conducts BioBlitz events to observe the living species in Validebağ Grove, which was registered as a Grade 1 Natural Protected Area and declared as a protected area, and to record the biodiversity and change in the area.

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