The sustainable transformation of the construction industry is not limited to reducing environmental impacts; It also includes the creation of cities that are safe, durable, energy efficient and center on human life. The earthquake risk and the needs created by the climate crisis in Turkey make the transformation of the construction sector even more critical.
Saint-Gobain Sustainable Construction Observatory has launched an international meeting platform, Saint-Gobain Construction Talks, aiming to accelerate the transition to sustainable construction. The first series will be held in Paris in 2023; It brings together all stakeholders of the construction value chain, from architects to engineers, from academics to policy makers, from the financial world to civil society representatives, on the same platform. At each meeting, the countries' own priorities and obligations are discussed. This year, this global platform brought together the leading stakeholders of the sector in Turkey.
Saint-Gobain Türkiye CEO and Türkiye IMSAD President Murat Prosecutor, in his Construction Talks opening speech, pointed out that sustainable transformation is the common responsibility of the sector. "As the construction industry, we are facing two big tests: Earthquake and climate crisis. Turkey's earthquake reality clearly reveals that producing safe and durable buildings is not a choice, but an undeferred necessity. On the other hand, the fact that approximately 40 percent of global carbon emissions are associated with buildings and construction activities shows the critical role of our sector in combating the climate crisis. We cannot address these two issues independently of each other. Every building we build and transform today must be safe and resilient for future generations, and its environmental impacts and carbon footprint must be reduced. As Saint-Gobain, we make it our mission to be the pioneer of this transformation and to move forward in line with our goal of becoming a world leader in sustainable construction. However, we are aware that the transition to a sustainable construction sector is not a transformation that any company can achieve alone. All stakeholders of the value chain, including architects, engineers, contractors, material manufacturers, public institutions and non-governmental organizations, need to act towards a common goal by bringing the Sustainable Construction Talks platform to Turkey and sharing our sector's priorities and solution suggestions together before COP31 to be held in Antalya in November. We have to make the right decisions together today for safer, more resilient, less resource-consuming and low-carbon buildings.”
TURKEY'S EARTHQUAKE EXAM: HOLISTIC TRANSFORMATION FOR SAFE AND RESISTANT BUILDINGS
At the event, Architect Sedat Bayrak's "Where is Türkiye in Sustainable Construction?" Turkey's current position was brought to the agenda with his evaluation titled. Bayrak shared and commented on the results of the Barometer research conducted by the Saint-Gobain Sustainable Construction Observatory every year with the participation of 4,800 industry stakeholders and 30,000 people in 30 countries. Bayrak stated that there is awareness about sustainable construction in Turkey, but there is insufficient action. Then, in the "Turkey's Earthquake Exam" and "Turkey's Climate Exam" panels moderated by Ilgaz Gürsoy, the requirements for creating safe and resilient structures and transitioning to a low-carbon built environment were evaluated from the perspectives of different areas of expertise.
The first panel of the event was held under the title "Turkey's Earthquake Exam". The panel was attended by Türkiye İMSAD Board Member and Safe Buildings Urban Transformation Committee Chairman Muhammed Maraşlı, Istanbul Technical University Civil Engineering Department Head and Turkish Earthquake Foundation Board Member Prof. Dr. Alper İlki and architect and NSMH Founder Nevzat Sayın attended.
In the session, to which Muhammed Maraşlı contributed from the perspective of the sector and urban transformation, the dissemination of safe construction and the effective execution of urban transformation were discussed. Maraşlı emphasized that safe construction is possible not only with new technologies, but also with correct application and qualified human resources, and stated that Turkey's future lies in producing safe and sustainable buildings.
Prof. Dr. In his evaluations regarding earthquake safety and building performance, Alper İlki pointed out that the February 6 earthquakes once again revealed the risks in the existing building stock. Stating that a significant part of the buildings in Istanbul before 2000 were not earthquake resistant, İlki stated that it could take decades to examine the existing building stock in line with the current legislation, and that risky buildings should be identified quickly and effectively.
Nevzat Sayın touched upon the importance of architecture and design decisions in creating safe cities. Stating that uncontrolled and unqualified construction has become widespread in the urbanization process that has accelerated since the 1950s, Sayın said that the basis of today's problems lies in past preferences and lack of control.
The panel pointed out that in order for Turkey to create a more resilient built environment against earthquake risk, the safety of new buildings as well as the condition of existing buildings should be addressed in a holistic manner. Urban transformation should not be seen only as the renewal of buildings; It came to the fore that it should be carried out with a long-term transformation approach that evaluates the physical, social and environmental needs of cities together.
TURKEY'S CLIMATE EXAM: TRANSITION TO LOW CARBON AND SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
The second panel of the event was held under the title "Turkey's Climate Exam". In the session where the responsibility of the building sector in combating the climate crisis was evaluated, energy efficiency, low-carbon building materials, sustainable design, efficient use of resources and circular economy approach were discussed. The importance of considering environmental impacts at all stages, from the design of buildings to material selection, from construction to usage process, was emphasized.
The panel was attended by Yeditepe University Faculty of Architecture Dean and Türkiye İMSAD Board Member Prof. Dr. Ece Ceylan Baba, Altensis Founding Partner and ÇEDBİK President Dr. Emre Ilıcalı and ESCON Energy CEO Onur Ünlü attended. Speakers from different fields of expertise evaluated the architectural design, environmental performance and energy management dimensions of sustainable construction.
Prof. Dr. While Ece Ceylan Baba emphasizes that existing buildings carry not only physical assets but also social memory and cultural values, the demolition of a building is not only the loss of concrete and iron; He also emphasized that it also means the destruction of the period, the effort spent, the architectural character and the memories in the society that that building represents. "For this reason, the "upcycling" approach is highlighted: by adapting existing buildings to new functions, the embodied carbon is protected and the cultural memory of the cities is made sustainable. Thus, climate-friendly cities become possible not only by producing new buildings, but also by adapting to the future by keeping the values of the past alive," said Baba.
ESCON Energy CEO Onur Ünlü emphasized that sustainability investments offer important opportunities for industrialists in his assessment of the financing of green transformation. He stated that green financing sources can be used for projects aimed at reducing emissions and water consumption. He stated that these resources provide more affordable interest and longer-term loan opportunities. He said that green transformation should not only be seen as a cost item, but also a part of financial planning. He emphasized that green transformation is critical in terms of Turkey's export competitiveness, as well as its cost and implementation aspects. He stated that predictable regulations and applicable road maps are essential for success.
ÇEDBİK President, Altensis Founder Dr. Emre Ilıcalı emphasized that carbon in the construction and real estate sector has become not only an environmental issue, but also a direct financial indicator and competitiveness factor. He stated that with the European Union's Border Carbon Regulation Mechanism regulation, transformation is inevitable in sectors such as cement, iron-steel and aluminum. Pointing out that carbon emissions have become a new criterion added to cost, quality and time in the business world, Ilıcalı stated that this transformation is critical to remain competitive. He said that Turkey's timely implementation of the necessary regulations will contribute to the management of carbon-related costs within the country and the preservation of competitiveness in exports. Ilıcalı underlined that fighting the climate crisis is a long-term responsibility that cannot be postponed.
The panel stated that the transition to low-carbon construction is not only about the use of new technologies and materials; It has been revealed that design, energy performance, resource management and application processes need to be evaluated together. Dissemination of energy efficient buildings, reducing environmental impacts and more efficient use of resources came to the fore among the sector's main areas of work in the fight against climate change.
The meeting, organized in line with Saint-Gobain's global sustainable construction approach, brought together Turkey's priorities against earthquake safety and climate crisis in a common transformation agenda. The event once again demonstrated the importance of information sharing and cooperation between sector stakeholders in creating a safer, more resilient, energy efficient and low-carbon built environment.
