İzmir Metropolitan Municipality İZSU General Directorate continues its water meetings with the theme of “The Future is the Subject of Youth” to talk about the importance and sustainability of water in our lives.

“2. “Water Meeting” was held on March 22, World Water Day, with the organization of the Corporate Communications Department of the General Directorate of İZSU. Academicians and experts, who came together with young students at the Namık Kemal Anatolian High School Conference Hall, shared their solutions regarding the current situation of water in the world and in Turkey, risks and efficient use of water.

“Sustainable Development Goals cannot be considered separately from each other”
Experts participating in the 2nd Water Meeting made interactive presentations for young people on topics such as “Sustainable Development Goals, Climate Crisis, Water Footprint, Urban Water Management in İzmir, Wastewater Management”.

Giving detailed information on the “Clean Water and Sanitation” article of the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Izelman Social Worker Sevgi Tanboğa underlined that the 17 universal goals, which are a call to action, cannot be considered separately from each other. Stating that adopting global targets can provide 12 trillion dollars of new business value for Turkey annually, Tanboğa stated that while meeting the needs of the current generations, it is necessary not to jeopardize the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

“Very urgent and feasible measures need to be taken”
Öykü Özen, Secretary General of the Social Climate Association, made a striking presentation about the climate crisis, the water crisis, and the realities that may occur in the world if necessary precautions are not taken.

Expressing that urgent and applicable measures should be taken against climate change and climate crisis, Özen said that if no action is taken and necessary precautions are not taken, temperature changes will gradually increase, the amount of fresh water will disappear over time and humanity may face a great danger.

Nature-based solutions to the water crisis
Izmir Institute of Technology Faculty Member Dr. Nicel Saygın shared nature-based solutions to the water crisis with young students. Emphasizing the importance of methods to diversify clean water production, Saygın gave detailed information about the techniques for feeding the underground sources of rainwater, the importance of permeable surfaces in the natural water cycle, and examples of urban practices implemented in different countries. Saying that rainwater should be considered as a water source, Saygın said that it is possible to create resilient cities with alternative measures and methods.

Methods to reduce indirect water consumption with ‘Water Footprint’ tracking
In the second session of the event, Assoc. Dr. Influencer Gizem Dağ, who shared information about the conscious use of water with her thousands of followers on her Ferah Onat and Happiness Designer account, met with young students.

The experts, who made both an instructive and entertaining presentation about the amount of water consumed during the production of products such as food, beverages and clothes, drew attention to the excessive consumption of water used in agriculture and food production and the importance of choosing the products consumed according to the needs.

The adventure of water in Izmir
Environmental Engineer İrem Can and Özge Eskici, who are in charge of the General Directorate of İZSU, which provides uninterrupted clean drinking water and infrastructure services in İzmir, gave information about the works and services of İZSU.

Mentioning the importance of producing and protecting water resources in cities and managing infrastructure service processes well, İrem Can and Özge Eskici talked about the works related to the transportation of water from the source to our homes in İzmir and the purification of the water we use and the disposal of it without harming the nature.

Ideas of young people will shed light on the future
The students who participated in the meeting made different presentations consisting of their research on the water crisis, which threatens the whole world, as well as experts.

The Water Meetings, organized with the theme of ‘Youth’s Subject is the Future’, aims to raise awareness among young people about the climate crisis, which is of vital importance in the global sense, and to evaluate the ideas of young people that will shed light on the future in the roadmap to be drawn.

Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency