Ethemcan Turhan

Ethemcan Turhan is an academic researcher specializing in climate change, environmental justice, and political ecology, with a particular focus on Turkey and urban contexts. He is affiliated with the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and serves on the editorial board of Dialogues in Human Geography. Turhan is also a Steering Committee Member of the Mediterranean Expert Network on Environmental and Climate Change (MedECC) since 2015, demonstrating his significant role in regional environmental expertise.

His research spans several interconnected fields including Climate Change, Environmental Justice, Political Ecology, Urban Studies, Sustainable Development, and Energy Transition. Turhan's work contributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, reflecting his commitment to addressing global environmental challenges through interdisciplinary research. His fingerprint analysis reveals strong connections to Turkey studies (41%), Political Ecology (37%), Democracy (36%), and Environmental Justice (35%), with additional work on urban contexts and agricultural workers.

Turhan has published extensively on topics ranging from geothermal energy development in Turkey to urban climate adaptation and environmental movements. His recent work examines the intersection of energy transition, social justice, and political dynamics, with particular attention to grassroots climate initiatives as alternatives to business-driven climate solutions. He has highlighted how community-driven approaches offer more sustainable pathways compared to economic growth-focused climate responses, as seen in his 2024 media interview 'Grassroots vs. Green Economy: Why Business Solutions Won't Fix Climate Change'.

• Future Earth Early Career Travel Grant (2017)
• Katip Çelebi – Newton Fund Travel Grant (2017)
• CONNECT Follow-up visiting fellowship (2016)

Turhan is actively engaged in academic service, having served on the editorial board of Sustainability Science journal from 2021-2023 and as an Editorial Board Member for Dialogues in Human Geography since 2020. He has organized multiple PhD Summer Schools on topics related to subsurface decarbonization and energy transition, demonstrating his commitment to mentoring the next generation of researchers. His public engagement is significant, with numerous media contributions discussing climate policy, particularly regarding Turkey and international climate negotiations like COP28.