“Climate Action” on court at Turkish-Dutch national match by cooperation of UN Development Programme and Turkish Basketball Federation

February 21, 2020

Photo Credit: Bora Akbay / UNDP Turkey

Initial tangible actions under the new cooperation for Global Goal 13 Climate Action by the United Nations Development Programme and Turkish Basketball Federation took place at Turkish-Dutch national match on Friday 21 February in Ankara.

Ankara, 21 February 2020 – At the national match between Turkish and Dutch Men’s National Basketball Teams in the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers that ended the Netherlands winning 72-65, national players called for supporting Sustainable Development Goals, also known as Global Goals, and particularly Global Goal 13 “Climate Action”.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) signed a protocol on 17 February 2020 to foster cooperation on Global Goals agreed by world leaders to achieve by 2030 and Climate Action, and particularly increase awareness and encourage behaviour change in the youth.

In this context, a series of tangible actions were taken to set examples for “Climate Action” at Turkey-Netherlands national match on 21 February 2020, including:

• Sorted-waste bins for paper, plastics, glass and metals were placed in the arena;

• National players used organic towels in the court, training and locker rooms;

• The drinks purchased by the fans in the arena were served in recycled paper cups;

• Organic t-shirts were given away to fans at breaks publicizing UNDP and Global Goals.

• National players appeared at the pre-match ceremony wearing organic wristbands signifying Global Goals.

In addition, a group of children in Global Goals t-shirts came to the court in the pre-match ceremony and called all to take action for a sustainable future.

Announcements and advertisements were released during the match at the court to promote Global Goals and Climate Action, and taken live to the public at large through the broadcaster NTV.

The cooperation protocol, representing the first-ever agreement on the Global Goals between UNDP with a sports federation in Turkey, was signed at a meeting on 17 February 2020 by Mr. Claudio Tomasi, UNDP Turkey Resident Representative, and Mr. Hidayet Türkoğlu, President of the Turkish Basketball Federation, and announced to the public through a press conference.

The cooperation aims, through promotion and publicity at the matches of Turkish National Basketball Team, to foster values that contribute to achieving the Global Goals and particularly mobilise the energy of youth for the Global Goals. Another objective is to mobilise the sports community to adapt all activities to Climate Action principles, play an exemplary role in climate action and inspire basketball fans into action.

Global Goals: An Urgent Call to the Entire World

The Sustainable Development Goals, also known as Global Goals, were agreed in 2015 by 193 member states of the United Nations to achieve by 2030. A commitment to humanity and the planet, the 17 Global Goals also represent an urgent call to the entire world on the relevant themes.

With representation offices in more than 170 countries and regions, UNDP has been active in Turkey for more than half a century, and supports Turkey’s efforts to achieve the Global Goals by 2030.

With just 10 years to 2030, the United Nations launched the Decade of Action from 1 January 2020. The year 2020 ushers in a period of necessity to accelerate the efforts at unprecedented pace, move beyond the awareness phase, and engage in maximum action to deliver the Goals by 2030. The Decade of Action calls for accelerating sustainable solutions to all the world’s biggest challenges.

Goal 13 Climate Action requires all to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

For more information on the Global Goals, access: kureselamaclar.org/en.

 

For more information:

UNDP Turkey Communications Officer Faik Uyanık, faik.uyanik@undp.org   

TBF Media and Communications Director Barış Kuyucu, baris.kuyucu@tbf.org.tr