Photo: Bora Akbay

What is the project about?

The objective of this project is to improve environmental protection and the quality of life of citizens by protecting human health and environment from adverse effects of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and other hazardous substances especially in contaminated sites through enhancing the implementing capacity of EU POPs Regulation and Soil Contamination Strategy.

The project was designed using an analytical and participative process to ensure alignment with the EU acquis on chemicals and contaminated sites management and respond to the national dynamics by addressing the training capacity needs of the central and local authorities in the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change.

What is ‘Persistent Organic Pollutant’? Please click here for further information on POPs.

What has been the situation?

Türkiye signed the Stockholm Convention in 2001 and ratified in 2009 to prohibit the production and use of persistent organic pollutants. Accordingly, the inventory of POPs and National Implementation Plan has been reviewed with GEF support in 2013 since there has been addition of 9 new POPs in the annexes of Convention. Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change published the POPs Regulation to better ensure the management of POPs stockpiles, wastes, and contaminated sites in 2018. This Regulation is covering the life-cycle management of POPs such as banning or severely restricting production/use/import/export of these chemicals, environmentally sound management of POPs stockpiles, wastes, and contaminated sites.

What is our mission?

The project is directed and implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change in close cooperation with the UNDP. The aim of this project is to enhance Türkiye’s capacity on implementation of EU POPs Regulation by providing technical assistance for the identification and remediation of contaminated sites with POPs. It will meet this objective by delivering expected results to optimize the multiplier effects and sustainability of the project.

How are we doing this?

The project has built in specific mechanisms to support coordination and interaction. Therefore, it is composed of two components to respond all these issues:

Component A – Technical Assistance for strengthening technical and institutional capacity for management of POPs contaminated sites and identification and classification of contaminated sites with POPs: This component aims to improve technical capacity of all relevant stakeholders in central and local authorities so that (i) there is a strengthened technical and institutional capacity for management of POPs contaminated sites, and (ii) POPs contaminated sites are properly identified and classified.

Component B – Works for increasing the institutional experience for remediation of POPs contaminated sites: This component aims to build a capacity for implementation of remediation activities in Türkiye in line with EU regulations and standards.

How will Türkiye Benefit?

This project aims to strengthen technical and institutional capacity of the central and local authorities in the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. Contaminated sites with POPs will be identified and classified through the Contaminated Sites Information System. Following the identification of contaminated sites in Türkiye, two pilot remediation studies will be operated in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders. These studies will be a reference to the future remediation works in the country. The last but not the least, this project will increase public awareness on POPs which pose a certain risk to both human health and environment.