Sedat Gündoğdu

Sedat Gündoğdu is a marine biologist and environmental researcher at Çukurova University, Türkiye. His work focuses on plastic and microplastic pollution, with a special emphasis on plastic waste trade, its socio-political dimensions, and climate implications. With a background in fish population dynamics and ecological modeling, he shifted his research focus after witnessing firsthand the plastic pollution crisis along Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast. Since then, he has published extensively on microplastics, marine debris, and the environmental and public health risks associated with plastic waste. Sedat’s interdisciplinary approach combines natural sciences, environmental policy, and public engagement. He has led or participated in numerous national and international projects, including collaborations with NGOs, municipalities, and academic institutions. He is also a founding member of the Scientists' Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty and actively contributes to public discourse through media, scientific publications, and civil society networks. Sedat’s research has informed policymaking in Türkiye and the EU, especially on issues related to imported plastic waste and environmental justice. His current focus is on revealing the hidden climate costs of global waste flows and advancing equitable, data-driven waste governance.

Plastic Waste Trade Between Germany/EU and Türkiye: A Specific Emphasis on Its Climate Effect

This project investigates the climate implications of the plastic waste trade between Germany and Türkiye—an underexplored issue that sits at the nexus of environmental policy, international cooperation, and climate change. By integrating quantitative life-cycle assessment models with qualitative political analysis, I aim to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with different scenarios for imported plastic waste, including incineration, recycling, and open dumping. These emissions have remained largely invisible in policy debates, yet they contribute to climate injustice and undermine global climate commitments.

The project will also explore how the plastic waste trade affects German-Turkish relations, shapes environmental diplomacy, and raises concerns around waste colonialism and regulatory accountability. Through interviews, stakeholder workshops, and media engagement, the project will generate both scientific outputs and policy-relevant insights. An online dashboard and a final conference will ensure broad dissemination of the project results. Ultimately, this research aims to inform transparent, climate-conscious waste governance in Türkiye and the EU, foster stronger cooperation between stakeholders, and position the plastic waste trade as a critical yet overlooked component of climate action and environmental justice.