İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu said, "Climate change is, of course, a reality. It is at our doorstep in the form of drought, fire, flood and extreme heat. We cannot deny these and leave farmers, industrialists and workers unprepared. Turkey will defend its right to development, production and nature together. As the İYİ Party, we will first protect water and soil."
İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu held his party's group meeting this week at Erdem Bayazıt Cultural Center in Kepez district of Antalya. Besides MPs, party members attended the meeting.
In the first part of his speech, Müsavat Dervişoğlu touched upon the 88th anniversary of the death of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic. Dervişoğlu said, "Yesterday was the 88th anniversary of the passing away of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic. With a volunteerism and emotion unprecedented in the world, we stood in silence in the spiritual presence of our beloved Atatürk. The respect for the 57-year life dedicated to the homeland and nation increases as we understand him. On this occasion, we once again salute our great leader and all our independence heroes." "I remember them with mercy and gratitude. May their souls rest in peace," he said.
'IT HAS CAME AS SEEING'
Referring to the explosion in the iron and steel facility in Aliağa, Izmir, where 18 workers lost their lives, Dervişoğlu said:
"As you know, 18 of our workers lost their lives in the explosion that occurred at the iron and steel facility in Aliağa, Izmir. I wish God's mercy to the workers we lost in this tragic incident, patience to their families, and a speedy recovery to our injured. We are talking about people who go from home to work and cannot return again. We are talking about people who bid farewell to their spouses, fathers, and brothers in the morning and are then called to the hospital with sad news. These people have questions that need to be answered. There are many officials who need to be held accountable. Because it can be seen that many disasters we have experienced have "The Aliağa incident, like Kartalkaya, Soma and İliç, has come to light. The incident is the fifth accident involving death or injury that has occurred in the same factory in the last 2 years. In other words, it is clear that there are those who persistently do not do their duty and do not fulfill their responsibilities, both in the company and in the public administration."
'I THANK THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO COP31'
Making statements on the COP31 Conference and climate change issues, Dervişoğlu said, "It is the United Nations Climate Change Conference known as COP31. I would like to thank those who contributed to this organization. It is of course a positive event that Türkiye, and Antalya in particular, hosts it. However, Türkiye hosting such a meeting does not eliminate the dire consequences of the rent-based approach of the government that has been ruling Türkiye for 25 years, especially in zoning, land and construction. In the name of energy production, a "It does not save our rivers that are irreversibly destroyed, it does not bring back the forests and mountains that have been cut down in the name of mining, it does not make us forget our coastline, which has lost its historical or natural protected area status forever, and our polluted seas, especially in the name of urban transformation, it does not heal our cities that have become unbreathable due to concrete and have lost their aesthetics, identity and ability to provide a humane life," he said.
'IT IS NICE THAT COP31 IS HELD IN OUR COUNTRY'
Stating that his party will announce the COP31 Manifesto during the COP31 visit, Dervişoğlu stated that steps should be taken regarding nature, people and green transformation. Dervişoğlu said, "I will share the results of a serious study and our solution suggestions. Just as the organization of COP31 is the duty of this government, it is also our duty to remind an irresponsible government of the truth and the precautions that must be taken against the dangers that await our country. This is a requirement of our understanding of responsible opposition. It is good that the meeting is held in our country, but the real issue is what we will have left after the delegations leave here. Will we be able to protect our water? Will our producers be able to stay on their land? Will tourism workers be able to make a living? Türkiye, polluting our rivers, "Will it be able to get rid of the insatiable appetite for profit that poisons our land and makes our cities uninhabitable? Or will only the meeting photos of leaders and opinion leaders remain? You cannot manage life and the city without understanding who uses the water and who pollutes it and thinking about this cycle. You cannot consume the plateau, the plain and the forest and keep the coast alive alone."
Referring to the environmental policies and goals of the İYİ Party, Dervişoğlu stated that they will first protect water and soil. Dervişoğlu said, "Climate change is, of course, a reality. It is at our doorstep in the form of drought, fire, flood and extreme heat. We cannot leave farmers, industrialists and workers unprepared by denying these. Turkey will defend its right to development, production and nature together. As the İYİ Party, we will first protect water and soil."
