Skip to main content

Environmental Crisis Looms in Turkey

The Turkish media is ignoring possible ecological disasters for fear of angering Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Oil tankers sail under the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge linking the city's European and Asian sides, over the Bosphorus waterway in Istanbul April 26, 2012.  REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY - Tags: ENERGY POLITICS BUSINESS MARITIME ENVIRONMENT) - RTR318MG
Read in 

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party have some “mega projects” in mind that could affect the future of Turkey and perhaps the entire region. One of these is the “Kanal Istanbul” project.

Erdogan is planning to dig a second maritime link between the Black and Marmara Seas, similar to Panama Canal. For some time now, Erdogan and his government have been breathlessly telling the people about this project. Phenomenal land speculation along the proposed course of the canal has already started and prices are skyrocketing. According to the plans, this canal will be the second passage after the Bosporus to link the Black and Marmara Seas and ease the extremely heavy traffic on the Bosporus. Environmentalists, however, have objected to the project, which they say it will cause serious ecological complications.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.