Global Challenges
The world faces severe environmental crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and unsustainable resource use. Global temperatures have risen by 1.1°C since the late 19th century, and to avoid exceeding 1.5°C, emissions must be cut by 7.6% annually until 2030. The world has lost 178 million hectares of forest between 1990 and 2020, and wildlife populations have declined by 69% since 1970. Each year, 8 million tons of plastic enter the oceans, while 9 out of 10 people breathe polluted air, contributing to millions of premature deaths.
Challenges in Türkiye
Even though environmental activism and conservation have become increasingly prominent in recent years, Türkiye faces its own set of environmental challenges, driven by urbanisation, industrialisation, and climate change, affecting air quality, water resources, and biodiversity:
- Air Pollution: Türkiye ranks 44th globally for air pollution, and according to the Dark Report of the Clean Air Rights Platform, has an air pollution-related death rate of 47 per 100,000 people. In cities impacted by the earthquakes, air quality worsened, exceeding national and WHO limits due to debris and heating methods.
- Soil and Water Pollution: There are 24,000 suspected soil contamination sites, and 79% of surface waters are polluted. Additionally, 56% of Organised Industrial Zones lack adequate wastewater treatment, contributing to rising pollution in lakes and seas, especially in Muğla, Mersin, Istanbul, and Izmir.
- Plastic Waste: Türkiye is the 2nd-largest plastic producer in Europe, yet 90% of municipal waste ends up in landfills. Inefficient waste management leads to plastic leakage into the Mediterranean, making Türkiye the largest contributor to European marine plastic pollution.
- Deforestation and Forest Fires: Wildfires, agricultural expansion, urbanisation, and energy projects drive deforestation, with forest fires increasing by 60% over the last decade. In 2021, around 140,000 hectares were destroyed, primarily in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions.
- Drought: Türkiye faces extreme drought risks, with rainfall decreasing by 31% in 2023. The freshwater resources are under significant threat due to climate change and pollution.
Regenerating Communities Through Agriculture
With our support, Soil for Life Association (Yaşam için Toprak Derneği) has helped mountain villages in Islahiye, Gaziantep, recover from the February 2023 earthquakes. Their work includes irrigation systems, cover cropping, and soil improvement. Women benefit from fruit-drying units, while children engage with a rain-fed medicinal plant garden.
Our Approach
Civil society organisations (CSOs) play a vital role in protecting the environment by raising awareness, conserving natural habitats, advocating for policy change, and helping local communities adopt sustainable practices.
Addressing the environmental challenges facing Türkiye is one of our key priorities. Since 2018, we have provided 62 grants totalling over £350K to CSOs working on environmental causes.
We follow two main approaches to create lasting impact:
1. Partnerships for Greater Impact
We collaborate with prestigious partners such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Conservation Collective, and the Turkish Philanthropy Funds to combine resources, share expertise, and support a wider range of environmental initiatives.
Turquoise Coast Environment Fund (TCEF): In partnership with the Conservation Collective, since 2022, we have supported TCEF to provide £80,000 in grants to 40 CSOs working to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable practices along Türkiye’s coasts. These include two grant rounds supporting local organisations restoring nature in the Adana, Hatay, and Mersin provinces affected by the 6 February 2023 earthquakes.
Supporting Digital Transformation: In 2021, we joined forces with the EBRD to help local environmental organisations strengthen their digital capacity. Since then, through this collaboration, we have provided over £15,000 to seven CSOs, accompanied by expert-led digital skills training to improve organisational resilience.
2. Integrating Environmental Priorities Across Our Programmes
We also include environmental awareness in all areas of our grantmaking. Through our support in gender equality, disaster recovery, and organisational development, we fund environmental organisations and projects that connect sustainability with social impact. These efforts help communities become stronger and more resilient while protecting both people and the environment.
Making a Difference
In 2021, we launched our dedicated Environmental Sustainability Fund to support projects promoting sustainability, biodiversity conservation, renewable energy, waste management, and climate change mitigation. So far, the fund has provided 38 grants.
Our grants have helped protect and restore natural habitats, promoted the adoption of renewable energy sources, encouraged waste reduction, recycling, and upcycling practices, supported initiatives mitigating the impacts of climate change, raised awareness and enhanced community resilience.
Explore the full list of grants we’ve provided, supporting impactful projects across various areas of work since our inception.
Grants in Action
Women in Fisheries Society (Kadın Balıkçılar Derneği) promotes ecological sustainability in marine ecosystems while empowering women in the industry. With our support, they strengthened their capacity and advanced their digital transformation by launching an e-commerce site, improving donation management, and receiving training in data management, digital security, and fundraising. They also enhanced their outreach by producing videos and sharing reports with national and international stakeholders.
Nature Association (Doğa Derneği) raised awareness about the Gediz Delta, a key Mediterranean wetland. Two meetings gathered 190 experts, civil society actors, and decision-makers to discuss its significance. The association also engaged over 500 students and 22 teachers in Izmir and held bird-watching events with more than 130 participants. A documentary and booklet about the delta were shared on social media to educate the public.
Marine Mammals Research Association (Deniz Memelileri Araştırma Derneği – DMAD), aiming to protect cetaceans and marine habitats in the Turkish Mediterranean, has connected 58 organisations and individuals, provided scientific training to students, and conducted community awareness surveys about marine mammals. They hosted stakeholder meetings in Antalya and published a report on the threats facing cetaceans in the region.
More of Mozaik in Action
Children’s Rights
Learn about how we empower civil society organisations promoting children’s rights.
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Animal Rights
Discover how our grants support initiatives improving the well-being of animals in Türkiye.
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Emergencies
Explore how we support the people and regions affected by natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
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