Erdogan attends Cemre Foundation launch in Istanbul

2026-02-24 - 21:02

The Cemre Foundation held its official introduction ceremony in Istanbul on Friday, bringing together senior political figures and civil society representatives, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The event underscored Türkiye’s growing focus on climate action, disaster preparedness and youth mobilization ahead of COP31. From grassroots movement to institutional structure Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Cigdem Karaaslan, honorary president of the foundation and an AK Party lawmaker from Samsun, said Cemre began as a volunteer-driven youth initiative in 2021. Young volunteers were actively involved during major forest fires and earthquakes, providing field support at critical moments. In July 2025, the organization obtained formal legal status, transitioning into a fully institutional foundation. Karaaslan stated that the foundation’s strategic objective is to establish Türkiye’s most comprehensive and experienced youth network focused on environmental protection and disaster management. She emphasized that climate change has become a direct concern for younger generations, as extreme weather events and urban flooding increasingly affect daily life. “Events once considered exceptional are now becoming routine,” she said, noting that structured volunteer coordination is essential. Environmental projects and COP31 vision Among its ongoing initiatives, the foundation is implementing a large-scale seagrass protection project supported by Halkbank, highlighting the plant’s critical contribution to oxygen production and marine ecosystems. Additional programs include nationwide tree-planting campaigns and certified search and rescue training. According to Karaaslan, Cemre plans to expand its visibility through both national and international partnerships in the coming period. Referring to Türkiye’s role as host of COP31, she described it as a moment of global leadership during a period marked by overlapping crises. She stressed that translating climate commitments into concrete action will be central to the summit. “One of the most significant milestones in the COP process will take place in Türkiye,” she said, adding that effective climate adaptation requires international cooperation rather than isolated national efforts. Volunteer mobilization after disasters Foundation chair Furkan Gokgoz said the launch ceremony represented a milestone in Cemre’s institutional development. He traced its origins to volunteer coordination during the 2021 Kastamonu floods, with a major expansion following the February 6 earthquakes, when more than 10,000 volunteers provided logistical and field assistance prior to the foundation’s formal registration in July 2025. Gokgoz identified climate change and disaster response as the organization’s two core pillars. He stressed the importance of awareness-building from early education to community-level engagement. Describing Türkiye’s hosting of COP31 as a diplomatic achievement, he also referenced the Zero Waste Movement initiated in 2017 by Emine Erdogan, now chair of the UN High-Level Advisory Council on Zero Waste, which gained significant UN recognition by 2023. Cemre, he said, aims to play an active role in COP31, particularly in volunteer mobilization and environmental initiatives.