Our Director, Prof. Dr. Ali İhsan Şekertekin, Participated as a Speaker in the Panel Titled “On the Road to COP31: Changing Climate, Changing Life”
On November 2, 2026, a panel titled “On the Road to COP31: A Changing Climate, A Changing Life” was organized by the Iğdır University Environmental Problems Application and Research Center (ÇEVMER) at the September 8 Martyrs’ Conference Hall.
The opening remarks for the panel were delivered by Iğdır University Rector Prof. Dr. Ekrem Gürel and Vice-Rector and COP31 Coordinator Prof. Dr. Haktan Sevinç. The speeches emphasized the importance of combating climate change, environmental sustainability, and the responsibilities that universities bear in this process.
In a panel moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Züleyha Reçber, Director of ÇEVMER, Prof. Dr. Ali İhsan Şekertekin—Director of the Vocational School of Technical Sciences—delivered a presentation titled “Warming World, Warming Cities: Surface Temperature and Climate Risks via Satellite Data.” Prof. Dr. Şekertekin focused on the impacts of global warming on urban areas, shifts in surface temperatures, and the formation of urban heat islands. Highlighting the role of urbanization and construction in driving temperature increases, he emphasized that expanding green spaces in cities plays a crucial role in mitigating the urban heat island effect.
Among the other speakers on the panel, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Çelik addressed the impacts of climate change on agricultural production and food security in his presentation titled “Drought, Famine, and Food Security in the Shadow of Climate Change,” while Asst. Prof. Dr. Erkan Durar drew attention to the psychological dimension of the issue in his talk titled “The Effects of Climate Change on Human Psychology.”
The panel, which saw the participation of students from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Vocational School of Technical Sciences, was also attended by students from the Architecture and Urban Planning Department and the Forestry Department of our Vocational School. The event helped students gain awareness regarding the environmental, economic, and social impacts of climate change.
The panel concluded following the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the speakers by the Rector of Iğdır University, Prof. Dr. Ekrem Gürel.
