Analysis of Climate Policies Through ‘X’ Posts of Mayoral Candidates in the 2024 Türkiye Local Elections

Abstract

Climate change, with impacts ranging from species extinction to extreme weather, migration, and food scarcity, demands urgent action due to its biological, ecological, and societal effects. Institutions, particularly municipalities, play a crucial role in addressing this challenge. Countries like Turkey, vulnerable to climate change effects due to geography and current policies, require feasible and sustainable solutions. This study examines the climate policies of mayoral candidates from major Turkish cities —Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Izmir, and Konya— through their posts on the social media platform X during the March 2024 election campaign. The goal is to assess candidates’ climate awareness and the extent to which they communicate these policies publicly. A content analysis of 6,048 posts reveals that while candidates highlighted urban planning, disaster management, waste management, and stray animals in their environmental posts, climate policies received minimal attention. This situation indicates that policies to combat climate change are not being prioritized as a key issue at the local government level in Turkey.

Keywords

• municipality
• climate policy
• 2024 local elections
• X platform
• social media

2024 Türkiye Yerel Seçimlerinde Belediye Başkan Adaylarının ‘X’ Paylaşımları Üzerinden İklim Politikalarının Analizi

Abstract

Türlerin yok olmasından aşırı hava olaylarına, göçlere ve gıda kıtlığına kadar uzanan etkileri olan iklim değişikliği, biyolojik, ekolojik ve toplumsal etkileri nedeniyle acil eylem gerektirmektedir. Kurumlar, özellikle belediyeler, bu zorluğun üstesinden gelmede önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Coğrafya ve güncel politikalar nedeniyle iklim değişikliğinin etkilerine karşı savunmasız olan Türkiye gibi ülkeler, uygulanabilir ve sürdürülebilir çözümlere ihtiyaç duymaktadır. Bu çalışma, Mart 2024 seçim kampanyası sırasında Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Gaziantep, İstanbul, İzmir ve Konya olmak üzere büyük Türkiye şehirlerinden belediye başkan adaylarının sosyal medya platformu X'teki paylaşımları aracılığıyla iklim politikalarını incelemektedir. Amaç, adayların iklim farkındalıklarını ve bu politikaları kamuoyuna ne ölçüde ilettiklerini değerlendirmektir. 6.048 gönderinin içerik analizi, adayların çevre paylaşımlarında şehir planlama, afet yönetimi, atık yönetimi ve sahipsiz hayvanları vurgulamasına rağmen iklim politikalarının çok az ilgi gördüğünü ortaya koymaktadır. Bu durum, Türkiye'de iklim değişikliğiyle mücadeleye yönelik politikaların yerel yönetimler düzeyinde öncelikli bir mesele olarak ele alınmadığını göstermektedir.

Keywords

• belediye
• iklim politikası
• 2024 yerel seçimleri
• X platformu
• sosyal medya

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