In order to escape serious damage to the environment, it is necessary to move from the fossil fuel economy to renewable energy, said Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist Tawakkol Karman at the International Energy Congress and Expo 2017 in Ankara on Wednesday. 

In her speech at the 10th conference titled “Energy is Future”, Karman pointed out that all the disasters our planet suffers are caused by sacrificing the earth’s safety for economic development. 

“The conscience of mankind urgently calls upon us all to assume corporate responsibility and share different responsibilities in order to protect future generations and our shared environment,” she added. 

As for severe damages to the environment and putting the ecosystem at risk, Mrs. Karman proposed an establishment of an international tribunal to prosecute all those involved in damaging the climate and environment in a way that threatens life. 

She indicated that adopting alternative energy on a large scale would create new employment opportunities for a large segment of the world's population living in unsuitable conditions today, which in turn helps to strengthen the logic of peace while weakening the logic of war.

The trend towards renewable or alternative energy will not only make the Earth healthier, it is also an important indicator of a genuine desire to consolidate peace we look forward to, she emphasized.  

The International Energy Congress and Expo (EIF 2017), which brings together energy sector's decision makers, experts and CEOs each year in Turkey, kicked off today in the capital city of Ankara.

The conference held from 8-10 November under the auspices of the Republic of Turkey, and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, sheds light on a wide range of topics relating to energy production in Turkey and worldwide.