Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan calls for a greener world

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan calls on citizens to be more sensitive to leave a greener world to next generations ahead of World Environment Day.

Erdoğan released a statement Sunday for the World Environment Day -- the biggest annual event for positive environmental action which takes place on June 5 every year.

This year's theme is 'Connecting People to Nature', which encourages people to get outdoors and into nature to appreciate its beauty and understand its importance.

Erdoğan, referring to his country's efforts on environmental issues, said Turkey acted in line with its responsibilities on the solution of environmental problems.

He underlined the importance of raising awareness on environmental issues from early childhood years.

Turkey's Minister of Forestry and Water Affairs also released a statement saying their goal was to ensure "a greener, cleaner, more beautiful, and more livable Turkey."

Veysel Eroğlu said they planted over 3.5 billion saplings in the past 13 years, as well as spreading the forestland up to 22.3 million hectares from 20.8 million in the same period.

Nearly 150 city forests and over a thousand picnic areas have been established, he said, adding the number of natural parks in the country also increased over 200.