Initiated ahead of the COP31 Antalya Summit, the fourth of the Hacettepe Climate Dialogues Webinar Series was held on September 17, 2026, under the title “Climate Justice and Vulnerable Communities: Adaptation Policies Reducing Inequalities.” At the event, prior to the upcoming COP31 process, Türkiye's initiatives on fair and inclusive climate policies were discussed from an interdisciplinary perspective.
The devastating effects of the climate crisis are not felt equally across the world or within a society. The webinar provided a detailed evaluation of the impacts and risks of climate change across all areas, particularly its repercussions on disadvantaged groups such as low-income countries, households, the elderly, children, women, migrants, and individuals with disabilities.
Moderated by Prof. Dr. Uğur Sadioğlu, Dean of the Faculty of Communication at Hacettepe University, the event began with opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Reyhan Atasü Topçuoğlu from the Department of Social Work. The panel continued with valuable contributions from Prof. Dr. Abdulmenaf Turan from Ankara University Faculty of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Berrin Koyuncu Lorasdağı from Hacettepe University Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Serhat Kaymas from the Faculty of Communication, and Prof. Dr. Cavit Işık Yavuz from the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health.
"Vulnerability is Not Just About Exposure to Natural Disasters"
During the panel, it was emphasized that the concept of vulnerability is directly related not only to exposure to natural hazards but also to poverty, social exclusion, and spatial inequalities. Attention was drawn to key topics such as the sharing of responsibilities between central and local governments in the design of climate policies, the necessity of robust healthcare systems, the urgency of adaptation policies to reduce health inequalities, and the role of the media. With the contributions of experts from various disciplines, the webinar established a strong conceptual foundation for Türkiye to develop a fair, inclusive, and community-based climate agenda during the COP31 process.