Reflections from the Climate and Sustainability Summit
On September 9th, we had the privilege of attending the 5th Climate and Sustainability Summit in Istanbul, supported by Fast Company Turkiye and hosted by Yuvam Dünya, a key partner in raising awareness about the climate crisis in Turkey.
This summit marked an important milestone for Light Eagle, not only because of the engaging discussions we participated in but also because it reminded us that the very inception of Light Eagle was inspired by Yuvam Dünya’s unwavering dedication to fostering a sustainable world for future generations.
Our journey at Light Eagle is closely intertwined with Yuvam Dünya's vision. Özlem, a founding board member of Yuvam Dünya, has been a vital source of inspiration for our company. Her passion for ensuring a sustainable future for our planet deeply influenced Onur’s decision to focus on investments in startups that create environmental and societal impact.
Highlights from the Summit
The summit began with an impactful keynote speech by Kıvılcım, the founder and the chairperson of Yuvam Dünya. She emphasized the importance of an urgent and collective response to the climate crisis, a message that resonates deeply with us at Light Eagle. As a company, we believe that sustainability must be woven into every investment decision we make, and Kıvılcım’s words reinforced this belief. Yuvam Dünya's remarkable reach—over 40 million people annually—through their partnerships is a testament to the power of collaboration in creating change.
One of the standout moments was investigative journalist Bekir Ağırdır’s eye-opening talk on how Türkiye perceives the climate crisis. His powerful insights underscored the reality that awareness alone is no longer sufficient; we must move towards action. This sentiment was echoed throughout the day, as industry leaders from across sectors shared their concrete steps toward a more sustainable future.
“Every enterprise possesses its own unique identity and capabilities. However, a company's offerings and abilities lack credibility unless its core values genuinely reflect a sincere commitment to sustainability” remarked Ağırdır. His words prompted us to reflect not only on our own intentions but also on those of key players across various sectors.
A highlight for us was Onur’s participation in a panel discussion on "New Ways of Doing Business," moderated by Aysel Madra. With other inspiring speakers such as Damla Sener Akkaynak, Founder of Humm Organik, and Ezgi Eylul Hasvatan Gavas, Co-Founder and CEO of Apollo, Onur shared his insights.
He emphasized three core pillars guiding Light Eagle: making impactful investments, fostering partnerships, and supporting sustainable development.
He highlighted the crucial role of family businesses, noting that an estimated $50 trillion will be transferred between generations over the next 30 years. “This is the largest wealth transfer in the history of mankind” he said “we can not wait for banks and governments to pave the way, it is up to parents and families to lead the transformation”.
In another panel, we had the opportunity to hear from Faruk Eczacıbaşı and Sina Afra, founders of Founder One, the first impact investment venture in Türkiye that Light Eagle is also one of the participants. Their discussion reaffirmed the critical role of impact investors must play in enhancing the infrastructure for sustainability. They mentioned that if we don't strengthen this ecosystem, the credit ratings and future investment potential of Türkiye might be at risk.
Later, The "Leader's New Climate Vision" panel featured distinguished participants such as Cem Deniz (General Manager of Polat Enerji), Dr. A. Bülent Sabuncu(CEO of Koton), Eser Okyay (General Manager of AKLease), Hakan Tiftik (CEO of Borusan Otomotiv), and Taşkın Kızılok (General Manager of IC Enterra Renewable Energy), moderated by Özarslan Tangün (CEO of Enterprise Türkiye). They shared their commitment to sustainability, not just in their products and services, but in every aspect of their operations. This focus on holistic, positive impact is a principle that should be adopted by all companies, from top management to lower units. The session inspired us to deepen our efforts to integrate sustainability into the core of our business operations, ensuring that our investments drive meaningful change for generations to come.
At Light Eagle, we are more committed than ever to aligning our actions with the sustainability goals. The summit served as a powerful reminder that, when stakeholders collaborate and leverage the right resources, we can leave behind a more sustainable planet for our children and grandchildren. We are honored to be part of this movement, and we will continue to work passionately towards a future where impact investing drives the positive changes the world so desperately needs.
Each of us has a role to play in driving positive transformation. Together, we will continue moving forward—with inspiration and determination.
Perhaps we can all start by asking ourselves, “What is one thing i can change in my life in the next 30 days that will be good for me and my family?”