Speaking at the 8th International Symposium on Environment and Ethics held in Skopje, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, emphasized the need to assess energy and resource requirements alongside the opportunities that artificial intelligence offers for the environment. Debik stated, “We cannot ignore the losses suffered by others while measuring our own success.”

Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, hosted the 8th International Symposium on Environment and Ethics (ISEM 2026) under the theme “Environment and Ethics in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” Speaking at the opening of the symposium held at the International Balkan University, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, emphasized the need to question the purposes served by technological advancements and who bears their environmental costs.

Organized by the Environment Foundation, the symposium was carried out in partnership with Yıldız Technical University, Sakarya University, Ibn Haldun University, ÇEKUD, and the Academic Platform. The program, which brought together academics and researchers, addressed the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence and the ethical responsibilities that must be considered when using these technologies.

“There can be no talk of environmental ethics without human dignity”

Beginning his speech by referring to Skopje’s place in shared history and collective memory, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Eyüp Debik, said he found it meaningful that the responsibility toward future generations was being addressed in this city. Emphasizing that environmental issues cannot be considered separately from human dignity and the right to life, Debik made the following remarks regarding the events in Gaza:

“Israel’s systematic destruction has claimed the lives of children, students, and scientists. Schools, universities, mosques, and hospitals have also been targeted in this destruction. What is happening is a humanitarian catastrophe. It is also an attempt to erase a society’s memory and future.”

Paying tribute to the martyrs in Gaza and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, Debik stated, “We must also raise our voices when a people’s ability to sustain life is destroyed while they are defending their water, land, and all living things. “There can be no talk of environmental ethics without human dignity,” he said.

Noting that the responsibility of universities and civil society organizations extends beyond technical analyses, Debik stated, “Science and technology lose their meaning when they are disconnected from justice and human life.” Debik said, “Silence is not neutrality. Knowledge devoid of conscience is incomplete. Those who protect nature must also protect human life.”

“Is our moral judgment evolving at the same pace?”

Expressing pride in supporting the symposium with YTÜ’s knowledge and experience spanning over a century, Debik noted that our university ranks 45th globally and 2nd in Turkey in the 2026 UI GreenMetric rankings.

Noting that in addition to his role as Rector, he also conducts environmental work as Chairman of the Board of Directors at ÇEKUD and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Environmental Foundation, Debik explained the relationship between these roles as follows:

“At the university, we generate knowledge through education and research. Through civil society, we transform this knowledge into awareness and action. Under the umbrella of the foundation, we work to ensure this responsibility is sustained.”

Referring to the journey of the Environment and Ethics symposia, which began in Gaziantep in 2013, Debik said that this year’s theme raises an important question. “Technology and innovations are increasing our power. But is our moral judgment developing at the same pace?” Debik asked, pointing out that the environmental impacts of our needs and consumption choices are growing even further due to artificial intelligence.

“It offers an opportunity to take action before the damage grows”

Assessing the opportunities artificial intelligence offers for the conservation of natural resources, Debik noted that smart irrigation systems used in agriculture can help reduce water consumption while maintaining crop yields. He also mentioned that the United Nations Environment Program uses artificial intelligence and satellite data to detect methane emissions and support efforts to reduce them.

Saying that, as an environmental engineer, he finds these applications particularly valuable, Debik stated, “In our profession, we often detect environmental damage only after it has occurred. Artificial intelligence offers us the opportunity to identify risks earlier, make more accurate decisions, and take action before the damage escalates.”

“Artificial intelligence also depends on the Earth’s resources”

Emphasizing that the environmental costs of artificial intelligence must also be taken into account, Debik noted that these systems require electricity, water, and physical infrastructure. Citing a projection by the International Energy Agency, he noted that electricity consumption by data centers—including those supporting artificial intelligence—is expected to nearly double by 2030.

“Behind every computer chip lie intensive production processes and limited natural resources. Artificial intelligence is also dependent on the Earth’s resources,” said Debik, adding that the savings achieved per operation do not guarantee a reduction in total consumption.

Debik emphasized that this distinction must also be taken into account when evaluating companies’ environmental claims, stating:

“Increased efficiency does not always mean a reduction in environmental harm. Even if individual operations consume less energy, total consumption can rise as demand increases. Therefore, when companies claim to be carbon neutral, we must question which emissions are actually being reduced and which environmental costs are being excluded from the calculation. Otherwise, these claims carry the risk of becoming greenwashing.”

“A calculation may be correct. However, the purpose underlying that calculation may not be justified.”

Debik, noting that responsibility in the field of artificial intelligence begins with the goals set for the systems, gave an example using a model that manages water resources in a river basin. Noting that the model might focus on increasing economic returns, Debik said that people’s basic water needs, farmers’ livelihoods, and ecosystem health must also be included in the objectives.

“The results will reflect the priorities we set,” Debik said, adding, “A calculation may be correct. However, the purpose underlying that calculation may not be just.”

Pointing out that technological calculations cannot account for every value, Debik said, “Technology can help us calculate how much carbon a tree stores. But how do we measure that tree’s place in a neighborhood’s collective memory? How do we measure the life lived in its shade? Not everything of value can be expressed in numbers,” he said.

Noting that the communities that benefit from technology are not always the same as those that bear its environmental costs, Debik said, “We cannot ignore the losses suffered by others while measuring our own success. Nor can we shirk responsibility by saying, ‘The model suggested this.’”

Emphasis on Stewardship, Moderation, and Justice in Environmental Ethics

Noting that our civilizational heritage offers three guiding principles on environmental issues, Debik highlighted the concepts of stewardship, moderation, and justice. He explained that stewardship requires the responsible use of resources, moderation involves striking a balance between human needs and the Earth’s limits, and justice entails safeguarding the rights of those whose voices are not heard.

“Future generations have no seat at today’s decision-making tables. Other living beings cannot defend their own rights as their habitats disappear,” said Debik, adding, “It is our responsibility to safeguard both their present and their future. Environmental ethics is about recognizing this responsibility and taking it on.”

“As our knowledge grows, so must our care”

Emphasizing that universities play a crucial role in fostering this responsibility, Debik stated that engineering must be integrated with philosophy, and environmental sciences with law. He described YTÜ’s approach to education and research as follows:

“At Yıldız Technical University, we believe that scientific success must be evaluated not only based on its academic quality but also on its contribution to human life and nature. While our students learn to design and develop systems, they must also consider whose lives these systems will affect.”

“Scientific competence and ethical judgment must develop hand in hand,” said Debik, expressing his hope that the research presented and the discussions held at the symposium would contribute to translating these principles into concrete actions.

Emphasizing his message with the words, “As our knowledge grows, so must our care. As our power grows, so must our responsibility,” Debik thanked the host International Balkan University, the Environment Foundation, partner institutions, the organizing and scientific committees, and the researchers.