Article written by Foundation for Environmental Education in Turkiye (TÜRÇEV)
The Environmental Education Congress for a Sustainable Future organised by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Turkiye (TÜRÇEV) and Ankara University Water Management Institute (ENSTİTÜSU) took place at Antalya-Kemer Crystal De Luxe Hotel between February 10-12, 2025.
In the first comprehensive congress organised in the field of environmental education in Turkiye, 15 universities, 19 municipalities, numerous primary, secondary and high schools, public and private sector representatives and civil society organizations came together to address important issues in line with environmental awareness and sustainable development goals.
Topics such as environmental education, climate change adaptation, sustainable water management, zero waste practices, responsibilities of local governments, the role of the media in environmental awareness, the role of youth and women for the recovery of environmental depletion were highlighted in the congress.
Contribution to Turkiye’s environmental education roadmap
The Environmental Education Congress for a Sustainable Future offers an important platform that strengthens cooperation and information sharing among participants on environmental education and awareness studies. Expert speakers in the field share their views on how environmental sustainability can be better integrated into the education system. TÜRÇEV and ENSTİTÜSU continue their work to spread environmental awareness, stating that the ideas and suggestions emerging from the congress will contribute to environmental education policies.
“Environmental education is one of the cornerstones of building a sustainable future. This congress is an important platform that brings different stakeholders together in order to increase environmental awareness and produce permanent solutions”
TÜRÇEV General Manager and Congress Organisation Board Co-Chair Almila Kindan Cebbari stated the importance and contribution of empowering young people and women and highlighting their leadership was clearly understood at this congress. She also stated that they experienced that the network environment created thanks to this congress contributed to local, national and international collaborations.
“Environmental education is the most effective tool we have to combat the climate crisis and water stress we are experiencing, so it should be our primary goal.”
Left to right: Almila Kindan, TÜRÇEV General Manager, Dr. Pramod Kumar Sharma, Senior Director of Education, Foundation for Environmental Education
In the congress, the session titled “International Approaches in Environmental Education” moderated by TÜRÇEV General Manager Almıla Kından Cebbari was attended by the following speakers: Dr. Pramod Kumar Sharma, Senior Director of Education from the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Mr. Wondwosen Asnake Kibret, UNEP Europe Office Representative; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kamil Kurtul, UNICEF Turkiye Program Manager for Equal Opportunities in Education; and Ms. Gökçen Boz, Head of Projects and Social Partners Department of the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Turkiye. The panel opened up innovative and multi-faceted perspectives on environmental education and provided a highly productive environment for the exchange of ideas.
Critical role of environmental awareness in shaping policy
The Environmental Education Congress for a Sustainable Future concluded with a reaffirmation of the critical role of environmental awareness in shaping policies, educational curricula, and societal attitudes. The wide-ranging panels, workshops, and discussions provided a roadmap for future collaborations among universities, governmental institutions, the private sector, and civil society organizations. Participants left the congress with strengthened resolve to integrate sustainability into diverse sectors, underscoring that holistic, multi-stakeholder approaches are essential to ensuring a resilient, equitable, and thriving future for all.