It also adopted the highly significant Stockholm Declaration on Human
Environment (1972) and the Helsinki Declaration on European Security and
Cooperation (1975, 1980).
Along with the development plans of governmental policies on economic and
social issues, environmental concerns were first recognised and addressed in the
1970s, through the Third Five Year Development Plan (1973–1977) prepared by
the State Planning Organization (1972: 866–868). In line with these developments,
in 1974 the Coordination Council For Environmental Problems, involving eight
ministers, was established, and in 1976 the Coordination Council For Environment
Research was set up under the Scientific and Technological Research Council of
Turkey (Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, 2011b: 178). In the Fourth
Development Plan (1979–1983), environmental problems were addressed in detail
– in the first part, fourth section under the title ‘environmental problems’; in the
second part, third section under the title ‘environmental problems’; and in the third
part, sixth section section under the title ‘Health of Environment’ (State Planning
Organization, 1979: 83–83, 295, 462).
In addition to them, in 1978, an Environment Organization was founded under the
Prime Ministry, which was transformed into a General Directorate of Environment in
1983 (Decree Law No. 222) and into the Undersecretariat of Environment in 1989
(Decree Law No. 389). It is worth noting that, for the first time, an organization
responsible for the coordination and cooperation of all national and international
policies concerning environmental issues was built up through this organization.
In sum, in this period, even if there were no direct links to environmental issues
within the Constitution and other legal documents, an examination of the developments related to environmental concerns shows signs of an intention (even if not
strong, nevertheless there, as can be inferred from the fact that the first usage of the
appellation ‘National Park’ goes back to 1958) to ensure, develop and maintain
effective policies for the protection of the environment (Ministry of Environment
and Forestry 2007).
2.3 From the Constitution of 1982 to the EU Candidacy
(1999)
The 1982 Constitution for the first time directly referred to the right of environment
and guaranteed it as a human right. Thus, it opened a new phase in Turkish
Environmental Law.
With entry into force of the Environment Act No. 2872 (1983),
3 protection of the
environment began to be directly and specifically regulated under the Turkish legal
3
See Akgündüz (2009: 161–169) for the first environment act (called the Environment Statute) in
history, which was adopted in the Ottoman Empire in 1539 through Sultan Suleiman, the
Lawgiver.
10
Z. Savaşan
Environment (1972) and the Helsinki Declaration on European Security and
Cooperation (1975, 1980).
Along with the development plans of governmental policies on economic and
social issues, environmental concerns were first recognised and addressed in the
1970s, through the Third Five Year Development Plan (1973–1977) prepared by
the State Planning Organization (1972: 866–868). In line with these developments,
in 1974 the Coordination Council For Environmental Problems, involving eight
ministers, was established, and in 1976 the Coordination Council For Environment
Research was set up under the Scientific and Technological Research Council of
Turkey (Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, 2011b: 178). In the Fourth
Development Plan (1979–1983), environmental problems were addressed in detail
– in the first part, fourth section under the title ‘environmental problems’; in the
second part, third section under the title ‘environmental problems’; and in the third
part, sixth section section under the title ‘Health of Environment’ (State Planning
Organization, 1979: 83–83, 295, 462).
In addition to them, in 1978, an Environment Organization was founded under the
Prime Ministry, which was transformed into a General Directorate of Environment in
1983 (Decree Law No. 222) and into the Undersecretariat of Environment in 1989
(Decree Law No. 389). It is worth noting that, for the first time, an organization
responsible for the coordination and cooperation of all national and international
policies concerning environmental issues was built up through this organization.
In sum, in this period, even if there were no direct links to environmental issues
within the Constitution and other legal documents, an examination of the developments related to environmental concerns shows signs of an intention (even if not
strong, nevertheless there, as can be inferred from the fact that the first usage of the
appellation ‘National Park’ goes back to 1958) to ensure, develop and maintain
effective policies for the protection of the environment (Ministry of Environment
and Forestry 2007).
2.3 From the Constitution of 1982 to the EU Candidacy
(1999)
The 1982 Constitution for the first time directly referred to the right of environment
and guaranteed it as a human right. Thus, it opened a new phase in Turkish
Environmental Law.
With entry into force of the Environment Act No. 2872 (1983),
3 protection of the
environment began to be directly and specifically regulated under the Turkish legal
3
See Akgündüz (2009: 161–169) for the first environment act (called the Environment Statute) in
history, which was adopted in the Ottoman Empire in 1539 through Sultan Suleiman, the
Lawgiver.
10
Z. Savaşan