Climate Activism in Turkey

This book explores the diverse landscapes of climate activism in Turkey, an emerging economy where the “right to development” clashes with the intense signs of ecological collapse.

For many countries and societies outside the Global North, the tensions between development, climate and the environment are particularly challenging. The book contributes to recent studies of environmental and climate movements beyond the Global North - discussing how climate activism is intertwined with the unique developmental and political challenges and tensions. Through an in-depth study of the social base, networks, strategies, campaigns and role of the climate movement in social change in Turkey, Dobroslawa Wiktor-Mach provides a thorough analysis of the country's recent social and political transformations, and the impact of the development paradigm on nature and local communities, ecologies and politics.

Drawing on field research conducted in Türkiye between 2020 and 2023 on grassroots initiatives and activities of non-governmental communities in the area of climate change and adaptation, the book also uniquely includes voices from the south-east part of Türkiye where Kurds live and mobilize under multiple constraints. Included are findings from interviews with activists involved in the environmental movements, including representatives of the main climate networks, as well as other ecological platforms linking NGOs and less formal groups that are including the climate crisis as an important part of their agendas.


Inspired by recent literature in social movement studies, the book aims to shed new light on the ways in which climate challenges, which are closely intertwined with ecology, are inspiring parts of civil society in Turkey to engage in activism, challenging the mainstream development agenda, the advancement of neoliberal capitalism and the authoritarian tendencies of the ruling parties.