Press Release
The Climate Realities of 2025
The year 2025 has been recorded as a period when the climate crisis moved beyond a distant future concern and became a pressing reality of daily life in Türkiye and worldwide.
Türkiye’s Record-Breaking Climate Events in 2025
On July 25, an all-time national temperature record of 50.5°C was measured in Silopi, while 132 meteorological stations across Türkiye recorded their highest July temperatures on record. Heatwaves impacted not only temperature levels but also water resources. Over the course of the year, the number of rainy days decreased by 14% compared to the long-term average, dropping to 86 days, while total precipitation fell to its lowest level in the last 52 years. As a result of drought conditions, wildfires that broke out in 53 provinces in June and July burned approximately 80,000 hectares of land. Meanwhile, irregular precipitation patterns also brought unusually intense rainfall events. In September, 161.8 mm of rainfall recorded in Rize in a single day caused floods and landslides. If current conditions persist, water supply disruptions may become a key issue in 2026.
Waste Management and Circular Economy
Waste management practices play a crucial role in combating climate change. Through innovative water management and advanced treatment technologies, the Zero Waste initiative, solid waste recovery, and waste-to-energy projects, Türkiye contributes both to reducing its carbon footprint and to improving resource efficiency. By hosting the COP31 Climate Summit in 2026, Türkiye will play a leading role in global discussions on sustainability and environmental policies.
2026: A Year of Preparation and Action
Namık Sarıgöl, Organizer of IFAT Eurasia—Eurasia’s Leading Trade Fair for Environmental Technologies—and Exhibitions Manager at EKO Fuarcılık, stated in his evaluation of the developments in 2025 that the climate crisis is no longer a projection but a reality being directly experienced.
Emphasizing the critical role environmental technologies play in this process, Sarıgöl said:
“The tangible and destructive impacts of the climate crisis clearly demonstrate that environmental solutions can no longer be postponed. Instead of perceiving waste as a problem, we must start viewing it as a national asset—one that, through effective waste management planning, can reduce our need for raw materials and energy, support the fight against climate change, and contribute to improvements in employment and the foreign currency deficit. By bringing together national and international stakeholders capable of addressing these needs, IFAT Eurasia serves as one of the most important platforms for sharing sustainable and practical solutions.”
IFAT Eurasia 2025, held biennially and organized alternately with IFAT Munich, brought together 240 exhibitors from 14 countries and nearly 10,000 qualified visitors from 74 countries in Istanbul. Showcasing environmental technologies—particularly in water, wastewater, and solid waste management—the exhibition continues to strengthen Türkiye’s global visibility while positioning the country as a regional hub for environmental technologies.
The next edition of IFAT will take place in Munich from May 4–7, 2026.