World traveler, Energy Expert and Economist Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu, who has contributed to social responsibility projects with academic presentations, artistic performances, programs, projects and Chi Ci Talks on Sustainability, Education and World Peace in Turkey and five continents of the world, and who has been a speaker on World Peace at the United Nations subsidiary organizations in Geneva, Switzerland in the past, announced her Water Commitment to the public on UN Water United Nations World Water Day.
Here’s an excerpt from Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu’s commitment:
“Why do we water the flowers in the morning or in the cool of the evening, have we ever thought about it? I usually ask this question during sustainability workshops with children in my educational workshops on evaporation and reducing water stress. Today our topic is water. Advice usually comes at the end. But before I reach the end of this article, I strongly recommend that you watch the award-winning films from the Sabancı Foundation’s 8th Short Film Competition with the slogan ‘Short Film Long Impact – Water Crisis’, which I personally attended at the award ceremony and gala at Sabancı Center a few months ago, along with Turhapo Turkey News Portal. I’m sure they will have a greater impact in just a few minutes than what I’ve written.
Let’s proceed with a question now about whether providing education on preventing illegal actions against maritime safety or regulations on a specific subject would reduce our carbon footprint and water footprint, and let’s pay attention to context. What changes will occur in the world when the Suez Canal, affected by security threats in the Red Sea, changes the course of international ship traffic? How do international transportation and logistics service companies make decisions and change their routes? Understanding that the decreased daily ship crossings in the Panama Canal due to the drought caused by the effect of El Niño in Latin America and the Caribbean is due to the increasing demand for the Panama Canal and those escaping from the Suez Canal because of the Houthis, we better understand the butterfly effect and indirect impact. Or what could the relationship be between red meat and water stress and drought?”
Based on the UN Global Compact Principles, in line with Chi Ci Talks Çiğdem Yorgancıoğlu’s Commitment – CEO Mandate
“On Development and Future Paradoxes Concerning Water, the World’s Water Potential, Groundwater and Invisible Sources, Sinkholes, Lives Around Water Sources, Thirst and Diseases in Wars, Water from the Perspective of Disasters, Efficient Use of Water Resources, Water in the Context of Energy Sources and Urbanization, Combating Water Scarcity, Efficient Water Use, Water and Risk Management, Water Losses, Water Treatment, Prevention of Water Losses in Agricultural Irrigation, Widespread Adoption of Pressurized Irrigation Systems and Ensuring the Sustainability of This Pressure, Opening the Way for Awareness of Efficient Use and Conservation of Water, Water Culture, Water and Poetry, Seas and Pollution, Awareness for the Prevention of Pollution in Seas and Oceans,” including many educational seminars and workshops both in Turkey and globally on peace-related issues, as an advocate for productivity, sustainability, fair usage, reuse, and the circular economy, I will continue my personal efforts on this matter on World Water Day, renewing my commitment to it in this writing. Each emphasized with capital letters to remind individually with a responsible and conscious awareness. In this regard, if you wish to join the global network of companies operating in the field of water by signing the CEO Water Mandate with your water authority commitment, you can confirm your commitment to the CEO Water Mandate – Water Declaration/Commitment. You can easily find it on the United Nations’ pages. There, topics such as the following are highlighted and stated as follows: “Identify and manage business risks, Strengthen the brand and reputation, Reduce costs through water use efficiency, Develop a broader ESG strategy, Confirm your company’s commitment to Faster Forward – Water Resilience initiative.”
With an approach that embraces production sensitive to the ecosystem and nature, in my latest book titled ‘Old Village New, World Order,’ which addresses global issues such as drought, water stress, inefficient production, gluttony, greed, sustainable industrial policies, processes that accelerate, delay, and slow down economic and industrial growth, capacity to diversify production structure, economic instability, wars, and migrations now and long-term goals for the future, and how collaboration should be for the benefit of all humanity, including game-changing developments such as artificial intelligence, and brings a satirical, poetic criticism for human centeredness with nature, I have also addressed these topics and continue to hold workshops and training sessions on this matter. It will continue. This is a commitment of mine. A notification. In addition to the above water commitment, I also have another work specifically on water within the scope of the projects I am involved in, academic studies, stage performances, and events, as well as Peace and Education projects I work on in educational workshops and modules. I will also mention my article studies based on research published in refereed university journals. Because, in terms of contextuality, due to being a less covered topic compared to other issues regarding water stress, it is necessary to say new or less spoken things alongside the above water commitment.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a common plan for peace and prosperity for people and the planet now and into the future, centered around the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which call for urgent action by all countries, developed and developing, in a global partnership. They are aware that efforts must go hand in hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and promote economic growth; These efforts also include areas such as combating climate change, and protecting our oceans and forests. Sustainable Development Goal 6 states: Billions of people still live without safe water and sanitation. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030. Achieving SDG 6 is an integral part of the success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which aims to end extreme poverty and protect the planet.
In 1993, with the decision taken by the United Nations General Assembly, every year on March 22nd, World Water Day is celebrated under different topics, while these celebrations organized by UN-Water are held each year with a different theme. The theme of World Water Day 2024 is ‘Benefit Sharing for Peace and Prosperity from Water.’
World Water Day is an observance day organized by the United Nations (UN), held annually on March 22nd (#WaterDay), emphasizing the importance of drinking water and freshwater resources. World Water Day is significant in advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The theme of each year focuses on clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) issues that are compatible with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) and sheds light on them. The United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR) is published each year within the framework of World Water Day. The United Nations and member countries reward concrete efforts related to water resources and organize various activities to implement UN recommendations. UN-Water supports internationally coordinated activities on World Water Day and is a different organization working on this issue.
The theme of World Water Day 2024 has been determined as ‘Water for Peace and Prosperity.’ UN-Water’s annual report on water issues explains how developing and sustaining a safe and equitable water future supports prosperity and peace for everyone, and how water insecurity can exacerbate poverty, inequality, social tension, and conflicts. The report highlights the complex relationships between sustainable water management, prosperity, and peace, and emphasizes how progress in one dimension can positively impact other dimensions.
Before proceeding to the citations and references of the article published in the refereed journal called Cyprus Academic and Scientific Research Journal (KABAD) in 2023 for World Water Day, may I have your permission to share these citations?”
Is it Possible to Consume Red Meat in a Climate and Health-Friendly Manner with Moderation and Consciousness?
One way to stop irreversible chain reactions is to understand the logic and context of the reaction chain. While European healthcare systems were grappling with significant issues such as underfunded primary and social care, workforce shortages, and inequalities in access to care even before the COVID outbreak in late 2019, they were also addressing increasing challenges such as aging populations and the rise of non-communicable diseases. The ongoing and prolonged pandemic, disruptions in the supply chain, businesses caught unprepared for the outbreak, factory closures, global production interruptions, and the Russian-Ukrainian war breaking out before the wound of the pandemic had healed were all delaying global recovery. Organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank were revising their global economic growth forecasts downward, warning that the war would slow growth and trigger upward inflation. The bullets, mines, and bombs of war were not only destroying buildings but also nature. Rising energy prices were exacerbating disruptions in the supply chain, deepening the energy crisis in Europe, increasing the cost of living and survival, and leading to crises and extreme weather events, among other things, contributing to the subsequent enduring crisis. By pushing healthcare systems, especially healthcare and care workforces, to their limits, it was exacerbating the severity of the situation. While many workers lost their lives, others experienced fatigue, exhaustion, and burnout. Yesterday, on March 13, 2023, headlines such as “The World is Talking About the Banking Crisis in the United States” dominated mainstream media.
All developments had once again begun to create tremors in financial markets as of last week. In the United States, two more banks had gone bankrupt in the past week, and before their fallout had even cooled down, another bank went bankrupt in the new week. Following Silicon Valley Bank, Silvergate Bank, based in New York, also collapsed. Many other banks are on edge. Is a society that is poorly and excessively nourished, producing more than necessary, and consuming excessive red meat more unhealthy and unprepared, and thus more affected by all these aforementioned crises? Considering that an improvement in healthcare systems fundamentally requires programs that prioritize both environmental and public health with a fair, ethical, integrated, and proactive approach, it is worth noting that reducing the increase in excessive meat consumption and decreasing consumption within countries’ food policies has a sustainable contribution to both health and the environment. This article aims to shed light on some studies conducted in this regard.
Research findings pointing to the necessity of significantly reducing the consumption of animal meat indicate that the amount of fossil fuel required to produce 1 calorie of animal protein is ten times higher than the amount required to produce 1 calorie of plant protein.
Deforestation for Grazing, Water Use in Agriculture, and Carbon Footprint
There are numerous proven studies and research showing that excessive consumption of red and processed meat increases the risk of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. It is known that the risk of death increases as a result of such consumption. Furthermore, although meat is an important source of nutrients, it is known that excessive consumption of this protein source has a significant negative environmental impact on living beings.
Livestock production not only has negative effects on greenhouse gas emissions but also on water footprint, water pollution, and water scarcity. The methane emissions from animal digestion signify a greater impact than consuming thousands of liters of water to produce half a kilo of beef. The disruption in global water consumption due to drought caused by greenhouse gas-induced climate change creates water stress, making the issue of water required for red meat production a “chicken and egg paradox” in itself.
Regarding human health, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) stated in 2015 that consumption of both red and processed meat is carcinogenic to humans. Additionally, removing fats from red meats and meat products may also help prevent cardiovascular diseases as well as certain types of cancer. Some studies indicate a higher risk of pancreatic and prostate cancer in those who consume red meat and a higher risk of stomach cancer in those who consume processed meat.
Research on the environmental impacts of red meat agriculture highlights significant effects contributing to climate change. Methane emissions, the global warming potential of nitrogen in fertilizers and manure, deforestation for grazing, and large water requirements in agriculture are just a few examples. Deforestation for creating pastures for animals has a significantly adverse effect on climate change. Although world leaders have pledged to halt deforestation in the past, there has not been sufficient progress on a global scale.
Cuts for livestock also increase carbon footprints. Beef, which increases methane-containing greenhouse gas emissions, ranks high among meats that contribute to carbon footprints. Particularly when meats and animal products are ranked gradually, it is observed that the impacts of the lowest effective animal products are typically greater than those of plant substitutes.
The inclusion of food systems in national climate plans and commitments to adaptation and transformation of food systems were underscored when more than 130 countries signed the COP 28 UAE Declaration in 2023. This declaration aims at sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems, and climate action, and accepts an integrated approach to food and water management. Since agriculture is responsible for 70% of freshwater consumption, adopting an integrated approach is crucial for minimizing adverse effects on water systems.
In this context, the distinctions emphasized by COP 28 encompass important points for World Water Day. Let’s maintain our enthusiasm for being a part of a more livable, fair, sustainable, and responsive world, just like the flow of water. I wish you a beautiful weekend, filled with energy!
