Head of Sustainable Life Association Prof. Dr. Emine Aksoydan attended the conference themed “Sustainable life for future generations right for living” organized by the European University of Lefke (EUL) Faculty of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Aksoydan: Sustainability is a dynamic process that maintains and improves the balance between nature and human

Aksoydan said that “Sustainable living defines a lifestyle that involves the effective use of the natural resources of the individual or society, the natural resources of the Earth, and the personal resources of individuals. Sustainability is a dynamic process that maintains and improves the balance between nature and human. A sustainable future means the right use of natural resources, environmentally friendly nutrition and food systems for the quality of life and welfare of present and future generations environmentally friendly nutrition and food systems, the use of environmentally sensitive technology, the use of renewable energy, a healthy environment, equal distribution of resources, economic prosperity and social justice simultaneously”. Aksoydan also described the concept of sustainability as ensuring the level of development that can meet today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Aksoydan pointed out that sustainability can be achieved by making the right choices for life, wrong choices harm both the environment and human health and underlined that according to the World Health Organization, every year 13 million deaths worldwide and about a quarter of the world’s diseases are caused by preventable environmental causes. She further pointed out that nutrition, sedentary living and environmental pollution are among the top environmental causes and that these can be eliminated with a sustainable lifestyle.

Aksoydan stated that “The planet we live on is being used ruthlessly by humans. From the energy used to the clothes and nutrition, which is the most essential requirement to sustain life, all choices are met with great damages to the planet, and no positive recycling is possible. However, if we start to change our lifestyle practices and habits in a positive way, we can stop the deterioration of the current situation”. Aksoydan also said that the most basic approach is to reduce the amount of carbon emitted to the planet, and from a nutritional point of view, since animal nutrients have high levels of carbon release, especially for red meat production, it is important that all processes from feeding red meat supply to food.

Aksoydan: Consuming natural and unpackaged foods in accordance with local foods and seasons is the first step towards sustainable life

Aksoydan underlined that the more foods we consume are produced or packaged away from the region where we live, the more carbon emissions are caused and said that Reducing consumption of red meat and other animal-derived foods and switching to plant-based nutrition and consuming natural and unpackaged foods in accordance with local foods and seasons is the first step towards sustainable life.

As a contribution to our relationship with nature we need to plant trees, reduce waste and give importance to recycling

Aksoydan said that “As a contribution to our relationship with nature we mustn’t waste water, use chemicals that harm fauna and flora or disposable plastics, we must reduce our paper usage, plant trees, reduce waste, give importance to recycling and avoid using fossil fuels” and added that synthetic garments and plastic products both directly damage human health and cause microplastics that are released to the wastewater when they are washed, especially polluting the seas and oceans causing the deaths of living things in these waters.

Aksoydan finally stated that natural materials (such as solar energy) should be used instead of heating with fossil fuel and that natural materials should be used in the environments we live in.