China News Service, Istanbul, November 13 (Wei Yuan, Wang Gaofei, Tang Yuxian) On November 12, local time, the "China-Turkey Dialogue on Ecological Civilization and Green Transformation" was held in Istanbul, Turkey during the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This dialogue was hosted by China News Service and Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization Research Center, and co-organized by China News Network and the Environmental and Economic Policy Research Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. This is the second time that China News Agency’s “News Hall” has held a series of multilateral events in Türkiye.
Fatma Onai Kociolu, associate professor at the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering, School of Computer and Information Technology, Istanbul University, said in her speech that artificial intelligence can provide support for scientific research and professional decision-making, but it should not replace scientific models and expert judgment. Taking China's "Pangu Weather" model as an example, she pointed out that artificial intelligence technology can improve the efficiency of medium-term weather forecasting and bring opportunities for renewable energy power generation forecasting, power grid planning and disaster warning. Türkiye also provides support for wind farm power generation forecasting and grid management through the Wind Power Monitoring and Forecasting Center. For key decisions, the combination of artificial intelligence with physical models and expert assessment can achieve more reliable results.
The picture shows Fatma Onai Koçoglu, associate professor at Istanbul University. Photo by China News Service reporter Xu Junjie
She further pointed out that artificial intelligence can process satellite and sensor data, assist emissions monitoring, environmental impact assessment, and quantify the effectiveness of climate-related investments, and improve the transparency of relevant mechanisms. However, this process requires high-quality data, transparent and reliable research methods, and harmonized standards across countries.
Kociolu also said that digital transformation itself should also focus on environmental impact. With the rapid growth of computing demand, the energy consumption problem of data centers has become increasingly prominent. She noted that China's "Eastern Data and Western Computing" project launched in 2022 provides a feasible idea to address this challenge: Handing data generated in the eastern region to data centers in the western region for processing, which can make full use of the local abundant wind and solar resources. In some advanced national data centers, the proportion of green electricity used is already considerable, reflecting the importance of combining computing infrastructure with clean energy.
When it comes to cooperation between Turkey and China, she suggested that the public institutions of the two countries can strengthen the reliable sharing of climate data and promote the coordination of monitoring, reporting and verification standards; industrial enterprises can promote the implementation of scientific research results through joint pilot projects in the fields of renewable energy, smart grids and clean production; universities can jointly build open data sets, promote exchanges of scientific researchers and students, and develop decision support tools to comprehensively assess the cost, emissions, resilience and social impact of green investments.
She also proposed that China-Turkmenistan cooperation should not be limited to energy and digital infrastructure. Both parties can use satellite data, sensors and artificial intelligence monitoring systems to explore nature-based solutions to promote the protection and restoration of forests, wetlands and other ecosystems.
Kociolu said that the success of the green transition not only depends on technical capabilities, but also requires the sharing of scientific knowledge, a credible governance system and the willingness of countries to act together. Climate issues have no national boundaries, and solutions and cooperation to address climate issues should also transcend national boundaries.
