Today, we are faced with numerous ecological challenges of international significance, including the use of toxic chemicals and mismanagement of waste, the unnecessary and improper utilization of natural resources, the destruction of habitats such as coral reefs through unconscious and excessive fishing, agricultural practices that harm the environment and living creatures like pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, improper irrigation methods, reliance on fossil and radioactive fuels instead of renewable energy sources, mining practices that violate the nature and deforestation for construction purposes, and issues related to overpopulation and overconsumption, resulting in the ecosystem degradation and harm to natural resources and all the living things on Earth.

In the face of all these challenges disrupting the balance of the nature and jeopardizing the future generations, the concept of “sustainability” emerges as a beacon of hope against the escalating environmental issues worldwide. The United Nations (UN) and non-governmental organizations are spearheading numerous projects to encourage the governments and companies to take conscientious steps towards environmental stewardship. For instance, the UN member states have outlined 17 action plans known as “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs), targeting achievement by the end of 2030. While states play a pivotal role in realizing this action plan, aiming to eradicate poverty, safeguard the environment, combat the climate crisis, ensure equitable prosperity, and achieve peace, it is equally crucial for individuals to become self-aware and actively engage in the fight. Taking meaningful steps, such as transitioning to renewable and clean energy sources, opting for bicycles or public transportation over unnecessary driving, choosing ecological and sustainable products, and minimizing food waste while keeping the environment clean, allows us to contribute to a sustainable future. As Banu Binat, who has an M.Sc. in Architecture, emphasizes in her article Sürdürülebilir Olmanın Hafifliği (“The Lightness of Being Sustainable”), although individual contributions to the world in terms of sustainability may seem small, our choices shape the production, the economy, and the overall process.

Individuals new to sustainability often turn to books, movies, and social media to grasp the agenda and to understand what actions they can take. Authors and social media users who share their experiences and insights on this subject play a crucial role in raising awareness across various segments through their informative posts. For those seeking to delve deeper into sustainability, we have compiled inspiring podcasts in which experts from various fields address the “climate crisis” and “environment” from different perspectives:

Açık Yeşil

The “Açık Yeşil” (“Light Green”) podcast program, hosted by Ömer Madra and Ümit Şahin on Açık Radyo, opens issues on the environmental and ecological agenda up for discussion. Since 2008, the program has been airing on Açık Radyo and is complemented by two books: “Açık Yeşil - Teorisi ve Pratiği ile Bir Ekoloji Rehberi” (“Light Green: An Ecology Guide with its Theory and Practice”), which transcribes 10 years of recordings, and “Açık Yeşil 2 - İklim Krizi, Politika ve Aktivizm” (“Light Green 2: Climate Crisis, Politics, and Activism”), encompassing the reports and interviews featured during the program.

You can tune in to the “Açık Yeşil” program, airing new episodes every Wednesday from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM, on Açık Radyo’s website or Apple Podcasts.


Buğday’ın Ambarından Kurda Kuşa Aşa

Created by the Buğday Association for Supporting Ecological Living, the podcast series “Buğday’ın Ambarından Kurda Kuşa Aşa” (“From Buğday’s Granary to Wolf, Bird, Food”) invites listeners to insightful conversations about the nature and ecological living, covering various topics and featuring different guests. Hosted by Lalehan Uysal, who identifies herself as a “seed observer,” the program shares information about the works conducted across all aspects of ecological life, as well as the ongoing projects, and the current discussions with the audience.

You can access the “Buğday’ın Ambarından Kurda Kuşa Aşa” podcast series on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts and RadioPublic platforms.

Dünya Hali

“Dünya Hali”, a climate and culture magazine published on Aposto, also reaches its audience through a podcast. The magazine is a collaborative effort with Yuvam Association and Boğaziçi University Climate Change Research and Policy Center (İklimBU), aiming to combat the climate crisis and to foster transformation across all segments of society. The podcast series features different guests each week, offering discussions on not only the climate crisis but also random topics from daily life. The “Dünya Hali” podcast series includes news and suggestions on various environmental and sustainability topics, such as composting, risks facing the soil ecosystem, and the secrets of healthy living.

You can access the “Dünya Hali” podcast series on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts platforms.

Esmiyor

Initiated by Derin Altan and Utku Güven under the motto “If the wind’s not blowing, there’s a reason”, the “Esmiyor” (“Wind’s Not Blowing”) podcast series centers on issues and inquiries related to the climate crisis agenda with different guests each week. The podcast series, which asks its guests questions about the climate crisis, sustainability and the environment, has so far hosted prominent names in their respective fields such as Dilara Koçak, Mert Fırat, Görkem Gömeç (Çevreci Geek), Barış Özcan, Deniz Ova, Beyhan Budak, Levent Kurnaz, Ömer Madra, and Özgür Mumcu.

The “Esmiyor” podcast series is available Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts platforms.

Geleceğe İlham Buluşmaları

Organized by Borusan Holding under the moderation of EKOIQ Editor-in-Chief Barış Doğru, the “Geleceğe İlham Buluşmaları” (“Meetings for Inspiration for the Future”) podcast series focuses on various topics such as gender equality, youth and the climate crisis, relations between the nature and people, and sustainability with a focus on people and technology. The podcast series aiming to cultivate a culture of sustainability and raise awareness on this topic has hosted experts in their respective fields, including Prof. Dr. Doğanay Tolunay, the academician and author Prof. Dr. Selçuk Şirin, Yuvam Dünya Chairman Kıvılcım Pınar Kocabıyık, the Forestry Engineer (M.Sc.) Assoc. Dr. Cihan Erdönmez, and Mazars Denge CEO & Corporate Sustainability Ambassador Dr. İzel Levi Coşkun.

You can listen to the “Geleceğe İlham Buluşmaları” podcast series on Spotify or follow it in video podcast format on Borusan Holding’s YouTube page.

İklim Habercileri

“İklim Habercileri” (“Climate Messengers”), produced and hosted by Barış Doğru and Bulut Bagatır from İklim Haber, shares the latest developments on the climate crisis with listeners every Friday from 07:00 AM to 08:00 AM on Açık Radyo. The program discusses the news of a crisis that impacts every aspect of life, ranging from burning forests and floods hitting the cities to the economy and politics, from oceans to steppes, from factory chimneys to traffic, and from stadiums to university campuses, and explores what needs to be done to solve that crisis.

You can listen to the episodes of the “İklim Habercileri” podcast series on Spotify or Açık Radyo’s website.

OMM Podcast: Yakın Gelecek

The “Yakın Gelecek” (“Near Future”) podcast series, broadcast in collaboration with Odunpazarı Modern Museum (OMM) and İş Investment, focuses on sustainability, climate change, and the future of the planet. The “Yakın Gelecek” podcast series seeks to answer the questions “How can we create a better future?” and “Why should we?” through mind exercises covering the aspects such as the buildings we live in, the clothes we wear, the near future of our species, and the environmental policies, with the hope that the world will still be a livable place in the next 25 years.

You can access the “Yakın Gelecek” podcast series, which aims to offer various perspectives on the concept of sustainability with guests approaching it from different points of view, on Spotify.

Sürdürülebilirliği Konuşalım

“Sürdürülebilirliği Konuşalım” (“Let’s Talk Sustainability”), a podcast channel with weekly broadcasts, shares information benefiting a wide audience, from the business world to SMEs, from entrepreneurs to university students, and from end consumers to white-collar professionals, about sustainability. The channel offers content that answers the questions such as “What is sustainability?”, “When did the concept of sustainability enter our lives?”, “What are the components of sustainability?”, and “Which reasons reveal the importance of the concept of sustainability?”. Additionally, the “Sürdürülebilirlik Sohbetleri” (“Sustainability Talks”) series, broadcast live on YouTube and Facebook and moderated by Yekta Kopan, is also available to the listeners on the “Sürdürülebilirliği Konuşalım” podcast channel.

“Sürdürülebilirliği Konuşalım” podcast channel is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts platforms.

Sürdürülebilir Yaşam Okulu

Aslı Dede, who has been spearheading various projects promoting natural, organic, ecological, and sustainable living since 2006, hosts notable figures making significant contributions to the field of ecology on the “Sürdürülebilir Yaşam Okulu” (“School of Sustainable Living”) podcast series. The program, emphasizing the idea that our planet needs heroes and that each of us can play a heroic role, seeks answers together with its guests to the question of how this can take place.

You can tune in to the “Sürdürülebilir Yaşam Okulu” podcasts, with a new episode broadcast every Tuesday, on Karnaval mobil app, Spotify and Apple Podcasts platforms.

*Podcasts are listed in alphabetical order.