Turkish ministers warn of $400 billion ocean ecosystem risk

At the Blue Dialogue Program in Trabzon, Turkish Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum warned that ocean ecosystems are facing massive risks due to climate change. He noted that research suggests the economic cost of ocean ecosystem degradation could exceed $400 billion by 2050.

Minister Kurum emphasized that while there have been improvements in fish stocks in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, current efforts remain insufficient to address the scale of the crisis. He stated that Turkey is developing policies aligned with Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on blue economy applications and innovative decision-support systems.

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu also spoke at the event, highlighting the importance of protecting marine flora and fauna while increasing national competitiveness. He mentioned that concrete steps are being taken to monitor greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector.