Eco Echo

On this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran and guest Kerem Cevani explore how architecture becomes a tool for healing after disaster. From Haiti to Japan to Turkey, they discuss how rebuilding can preserve culture, cut carbon, and restore dignity. Instead of temporary fixes, post-disaster restoration can offer resilience, memory, and renewal—turning tragedy into an opportunity for greener, strong...

On this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran welcomes back guest Arda Kalın to explore the world of green graffiti—where nature and street art collide. From moss murals that grow on city walls to seed-bomb installations that turn vacant lots into gardens, we discuss how eco-art is reshaping urban spaces. Arda explains the science behind living graffiti, the activism driving seed bombs, and why thes...

On this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran and guest Kerem Cevani explore how discarded materials and regenerative design principles are reshaping architecture and sustainability. From reclaimed wood and recycled steel to circular design strategies, they highlight projects that prove buildings can heal ecosystems instead of depleting them. Learn how material reclamation cuts carbon emissions, red...

On this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran sits down with Lara Kilislioğlu to explore one of the most pressing ethical dilemmas in modern consumer culture— can a brand truly call itself sustainable if it still tests on animals? Together, they unpack the contradictions between eco-friendly branding and animal testing, the rise of AI-powered lab alternatives, and the growing demand for transparency...

On this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran sits down with Kerem Cevani to explore the power of adaptive reuse—breathing new life into historic buildings instead of tearing them down. From the Tate Modern in London to Salt Galata in Istanbul and New York’s High Line, they dive into how old structures can be transformed into vibrant cultural hubs while cutting carbon emissions, reducing waste, and...

On this episode of ECO-ECHO, host Nil Kıran sits down with Bartu Altınbaş to explore how access to green and blue spaces—parks, forests, rivers, and lakes—shapes our mental well-being, especially in the face of climate change. Drawing on research from the World Health Organization, Frontiers in Public Health, and Scientific Reports, Bartu explains how contact with nature reduces stress, lowers dep...

How can art help us care more about the planet? In this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran talks with Arda Kalın about eco-art—art made from natural, recycled, or biodegradable materials. We look at famous works like Andy Goldsworthy’s leaf and ice sculptures, Agnes Denes’s wheat field in Manhattan, and Olafur Eliasson’s melting ice blocks, which show the impact of climate change in powerful ways...

In this episode of Eco-Echo, host Nil Kıran sits down with Bartu Altınbaş to uncover the hidden psychology behind climate change. From the challenges of collective action and the power of social identity in activism to the roots of climate denial and the way communities perceive risk, they explore why human behavior is often the biggest barrier to solutions. Drawing on research from scholars like...

On this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran is joined by Hasan Arda Kalın to explore how art becomes activism. From striking visual works and live performances to viral digital media, we dive into the ways creativity amplifies conversations about climate change, biodiversity loss, and social responsibility. Featuring Olafur Eliasson’s powerful Ice Watch installation—where blocks of glacial ice mel...

On this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran speaks with Aybars Aktaş about the urgent science of conservation biology. From restoring habitats and reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone, to the cutting-edge work of research centers like the Smithsonian, IUCN, and Kenya Wildlife Service, we explore how conservation biology is shaping strategies to protect endangered species and the ecosystems they dep...

On this episode of Eco Echo , host Nil Kıran and guest Beyza Altan unpack why sustainable housing is so often branded as a luxury—and how architecture can change that narrative. From passive cooling and mud-brick insulation to bamboo scaffolding and community-driven design, they explore ways to democratize sustainability so it benefits low-income communities, not just the wealthy. Together, they c...

On this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran sits down with Cafer Demir Özalp to examine the world’s most famous climate accord—the Paris Agreement. Hailed as a historic breakthrough, the agreement has lowered projected warming and driven investment in renewables, but critics argue it’s more political stagecraft than real action. We unpack the evidence: wealthy nations failing to deliver climate fi...

On this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran sits down with environmental scientist Alper Öztürk to explore the groundbreaking discovery of PETases—enzymes that can “eat” plastic. From their origins in a Japanese recycling plant to their potential role in creating a circular economy, we unpack how these enzymes could transform plastic waste into reusable resources. Join us as we discuss the science...

On this episode of Eco-Echo, host Nil Kıran is joined by Ece Kuzuimamlar to uncover the hidden threat of ghost nets—lost and abandoned fishing gear that makes up nearly 10% of ocean plastic. They explore how the EU’s groundbreaking Single-Use Plastics Directive and Port Reception Facilities Directive are transforming fishing practices, with case studies from Denmark, Sweden, France, Spain, the Net...

On this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran speaks with legal scholar Meyra Güler about the emerging movement to criminalize ecocide—the widespread and severe destruction of ecosystems. We unpack the proposed Ecocide Recognition Act, which would add ecocide to national penal codes and to the International Criminal Court’s list of crimes alongside genocide and crimes against humanity. From the Viet...

As Turkey faces another devastating wave of wildfires—this time in Bursa—host Nil Kıran and Liya Suda delve into the emotional toll of climate disasters. What is climate anxiety, and why is it on the rise? From peeling paint in forgotten classrooms to the roaring fires of today, this episode explores how climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a deeply personal, psychological burden. Dra...

The ocean covers over 70% of our planet, yet much of it remains unprotected and vulnerable to exploitation. In this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran sits down with marine policy expert Ece Kuzuimamlar to explore the rising wave of ocean protection and Blue Economy laws. From the groundbreaking High Seas Treaty to the expansion of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), we uncover how these legal framewo...

Today on Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran sits down with guest Meyra Guler to explore the rise of Environmental Justice and Equity Law—a groundbreaking concept that ensures vulnerable communities are not left to bear the burden of pollution and industrial development. From Cancer Alley in Louisiana to the Amazon rainforest and the Standing Rock protests, Merya highlights real-world examples where marginal...

On this episode of Eco-Echo, host Nil Kıran and guest Aybars Aktaş explore one of the defining challenges of our time — biodiversity loss and ecosystem resilience. With nearly one million species at risk of extinction, what does this mean for global food security, climate stability, and human survival? From the decline of pollinators to coral reef collapse, the conversation unpacks how species los...

On this episode of Eco-Echo, host Nil Kıran sits down with Cafer Demir Özalp to explore one of the most urgent questions in climate justice: Who really pays the price for climate change? From Pakistan’s devastating floods to Pacific island nations facing extinction, the conversation dives into the creation of the Loss and Damage Fund, the pledges made so far, and why they fall dramatically short o...

In this powerful episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kiran welcomes returning guest Özüm Erdem for a deep dive into how psychology shapes climate action and justice. Based on insights from the American Psychological Association and top academic labs like Stanford’s Climate Cognition Lab and UC San Diego’s Psychology & Action Lab, this conversation explores how emotions like eco-anxiety, grief, and e...

In this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kiran sits down with Beyza Altan, to explore the concept of integrating natural elements into architectural spaces. From plants and water features to natural light and airflow systems, biophilic design is reshaping how we experience urban environments. Beyza explains how this approach goes beyond aesthetics, improving health, productivity, and well-being for t...

 The ocean holds secrets we’ve barely begun to uncover. In this episode of Eco Echo, host Nil Kıran is joined by Alper Ozturk to explore the untapped potential of marine biochemistry. From cone snail venom painkillers to sea squirt cancer drugs, the conversation dives into how deep-sea organisms are reshaping medicine. Together, they discuss why 80% of the ocean remains a “medical library” unread,...

Today on Eco-Echo, host Nil Kıran is joined by Beyza Altan to explore how 3D printing and AI are reshaping the way we design and construct buildings with the planet in mind. From concrete-free housing to responsive, data-driven designs, they unpack how these technologies reduce waste, cut emissions, and empower architects to build for a sustainable future. Learn how pioneering institutions like ET...

How do you make polluters pay and innovators thrive? In this episode of Eco-Echo, host Nil Kıran sits down with Cem Fotocan to unpack the economic powerhouse behind global climate efforts—carbon pricing. From Sweden’s $130-per-ton carbon tax to China’s massive carbon market, we explore how putting a price on emissions is transforming industries, sparking innovation, and reshaping global trade. You...