The Heat Waves Campaign Begins!

The Cities As Places of Hope Green Cities Project, in which we aim at green and livable cities, is part of our work in the field of Climate Change. We are starting a new campaign process with The Cities As Places of Hope Green Cities Project, which we are running in cooperation with the Green European Foundation (GEF).

During the campaign, we aim to increase knowledge and awareness about heat waves, which are expected to increase their deadly effects in the coming years. In this way, we will also create an environment for cooperation and contribute to the development of ambitious actions.

The most common type of disaster in the world between 2004 and 2015!

Currently, many people, especially those living in the coastal areas of Turkey, are impatiently waiting for the rains to give way to the sunny and hot summer weather. However, hot weather conditions can become a health threat for some people.

Global warming and related climate change events also cause an increase in heat waves. Such extreme temperature values, which pose a health hazard, tend to increase not only in terms of incidence, but also in terms of intensity and duration.

Heat waves was the most common type of disaster after flood, earthquake and storm in the world between 2004 and 2015.

Measures need to be taken by Local Administrations and Public Health Units!

Climate change shows its effects on people in different ways, along with the imbalances and pollution that have begun to be experienced in the ecosystem. With the increase in the average temperature on the planet, the seasonal normals are changing and the human body has difficulty in keeping up with this change of the earth.

For many countries, including Turkey, the direct increase in the number of diseases and deaths caused by the heat is of primary importance. With the measures to be taken by local governments and public health units, loss of life due to heat can be prevented to a great extent.

The heat wave caused the death of people and agricultural losses; It is defined as a common meteorological phenomenon that increases many risks such as heat-related health risks, forest fires and power outages. Kaynak: Ümit Şahin, Sıcak Dalgaları: İklim Değişikliğiyle Artan Tehdit ve Sıcak-Sağlık Eylem Planları)

Helpful resources we will use during the campaign;

• Istanbul Policy Center–Sabancı University–Stiftung Mercator Initiative Ümit Şahin, Sıcak Dalgaları: İklim Değişikliğiyle Artan Tehdit ve Sıcak-Sağlık Eylem Planları)
• Istanbul City Council Sıcak Dalgaları Konusunda Görüş ve Öneriler – Bilgi Notu
• GEF The Cities As Places of Hope Green Cities Project Working Paper Begüm Aydın & Cem İskender Aydın Şehirleri Serinletmek için Yönetişim Stratejileri: Atina ve İstanbul Örnekleri 
• Esri – Heatwaves: Number of deadly heat days : 

This web application counts the number of days (ie, the number of fatal days) in a year where temperature and humidity conditions exceed this threshold and thus pose a risk of death.

• Windy: A meteorology site where you can observe temperature increases and get notifications about temperature increases in your area, days in advance.

In the 2-month period, we will be informing the followers of the Green Thought Association about the heat waves. You can follow our campaign on social media on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter  and Telegram channels.