A. OKTAY DEMİRKAN

Civil Society In The 100% Renewable Energy Transition

Abstract

Environmental problems in our country come to the forefront after the Chernobyl nuclear accident. In this environment, environmental protection organizations communicating with each other, sharing experiences and organizing collective actions gained momentum and become a necessity.

Eastern Mediterranean Environmental Associations (DAÇE), Western Mediterranean Environment Platform (BAÇEP) and Mediterranean Environment Platform (AKÇEP) were founded and these organizations became models for other regional platforms to be established. Environmental Platform of Turkey (TÜRÇEP) was founded as an inevitable result of this development.

The challenges of our environmental protection organizations were mainly focused on 2 issues. These were the nuclear power plants and thermal power plants that are built and planned one after another.

Our world was rapidly polluted, the climate was changing as a result of global warming.

Energy was an indispensable need and it was necessary to find a way to produce energy without polluting the environment. Yet, the real challenge was to convince the decision makers.

The environmental protection efforts should have been expanded beyond environmental organizations, the participation of professional chambers, unions, all non-governmental organizations was required. It was necessary to include specialist institutions like Chambers Of Electrical and Electronics Engineering so as to discuss not only the problems, but also the solutions, not only to oppose but also provide solution offers. The Clean Energy Platform (TEP) was established in order to introduce clean energy resources and technologies to public and to promote investors to invest in that field, expanding the scope of the discussion even further.

Today, R & D in this field made the renewable energies cheaper than their alternatives.

From now on our task will be to ensure the dissemination of renewable energy, the convincing of decision-makers, the realization of the right to live in a healthy and clean environment which is a basic human right, the end of energy battles, and the Promotion of peace.

Biography

I was born on 7 June 1942 in Ankara. I was graduated from Ankara Gazi Highschool in 1959. I graduated from İstanbul University Faculty of Pharmacy. I have been acting as a freelance pharmacist since 1967 in İskenderun/Hatay.

I started dealing with environment protection issues as a founding member of İskenderun Environment Protection Association (NGO) since 1986 and still a member of this organization.

I took part in the establishment of East Mediterranean Environment Platform in 1991 and performed the Joint Secretariat position until 2007.

I took part in the establishment of Turkey Environment Platform (TÜRÇEP) in 23 July 2005 and I am still performing the secretariat task.

My experience on environment protection issues have been accumulated through my own efforts. I took part and gave speeches in many conferences, panels, seminars with the participation of various actors of the society.

I also made some contributions for Anti-Nuclear Platform, Genetically Modified Organisms Platform. In İskenderun, I also made some contributions for the establishment of Anti-War Platform, Anti Ulla Platform, Republic and Democracy Platforms, etc.