Noting that Turkey is among the countries that will be most affected by climate change, Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said that the Mediterranean region is becoming increasingly hotter and drier due to the effects of global climate change. According to Taalas, the impact of drought on food prices will increase in the coming years, he told to the Turkish Ekonomi newspaper. High temperatures and drought are also bad news for agriculture, livestock and tourism, Taalas said.
Mediterranean Region: Hotter and Drier
Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said that the Mediterranean region is becoming increasingly hotter and drier due to the effects of global climate change and that Turkey, as part of the region, is among the countries that will be most affected by climate change. Taalas said that they can predict the weather a maximum of two weeks in advance, but that the current negative effects are expected to continue for many more years, and that there may be a change in this trend after the 2060s if measures to mitigate the effects of climate change, such as reducing emissions, can be successful.
Food prices
“We expect to see more negative effects of drought on food prices in the long term, we may see higher food prices,” Taalas said, noting that heat and drought will increase in Turkey in the coming years, which is bad news for agriculture, livestock and tourism. Portugal, Spain, southern France, Italy, the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Israel and North Africa are among the countries that will be most affected by the adverse conditions, Taalas said, adding that according to the worst-case scenario, desertification in the Mediterranean region could accelerate if the fight is not fast enough.
Wind and solar energy
Taalas emphasized the importance of getting rid of the use of fossil fuels as soon as possible and focusing on irrigation technologies, stressing that Israel should be taken as an example in the proper use of water resources.
Taalas also stated that the Turkish General Directorate of Meteorology is an active member of the Turkish Meteorological Service, which carries out successful studies in a wide region and supports many countries. Regarding Turkey’s fight against climate change, Taalas said, “Turkey actually has a greater potential to invest in this field.” Turkey should increase the share of solar and wind energy and has very favorable opportunities for this.