On 14 February 2026, Prof. Çisil Sohodol, Director at CIFAL Istanbul, shared her reflections on climate adaptation, crisis management and the growing tendency to contain global risks rather than address their root causes in an article published in Dünya Gazetesi.
Abstract
As the impacts of climate change intensify, responses to environmental risks are increasingly moving beyond mitigation toward large-scale adaptation and containment measures. One striking example is the proposal to construct an underwater barrier near Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier to limit the flow of warm ocean water beneath the ice and slow its melting. While such interventions may provide valuable time for coastal cities, infrastructure and economic systems to adapt to rising sea levels, they cannot eliminate the underlying causes of the climate crisis. The article draws parallels between this approach and the growing use of barriers in areas such as migration, trade, energy and supply chains, highlighting a broader tendency to contain uncertainty rather than resolve its sources. It ultimately emphasizes that technological and engineering solutions can support resilience, but lasting progress requires deeper economic, political and societal transformation, particularly through emissions reduction and changes in production and consumption patterns.
To read the full article, follow the link below:
https://www.dunya.com/kose-yazisi/krizlerin-ortak-dili-duvar/814998