Cities Leading Climate Action: Empowering Urban Resilience and Innovation
On November 20, 2024, the Marmara Municipalities Union (MMU), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change's Climate Change Directorate, hosted a session titled Cities Leading Climate Action at the Republic of Türkiye Pavilion during the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The session emphasized the pivotal role of local governments in the fight against climate change, with mayors from the Marmara region—representing Bursa, Bilecik, Gebze, Kartal, and Yıldırım—highlighting their collaborative efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
Mustafa Bozbey, President of MMU and Mayor of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, reaffirmed the region's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The panel centered on the strategic role of local governments in global climate action and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and enhance their ability to generate solutions in line with COP29’s global target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bozbey also spotlighted ongoing sustainability projects in Bursa, including renewable energy initiatives and the city's plans for eco-cities as part of its 2050 vision.
"The Future of Our World Depends on the Steps We Take"
In his remarks, Bozbey stated, "It is especially meaningful that this event is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan. I want to thank the President of Azerbaijan and the organizing committee for hosting us. We have polluted our world, and previous generations have done the same. Polluting is easy and inexpensive, but cleaning it up is truly costly. Now, the question is: how do we clean up this pollution? How do we turn our cities into green spaces, and how do we heal the wounds caused by climate change? We are working on all of these solutions, and this meeting is extremely important."
He also stressed that the discussions at COP29 were not just about global climate action, but about ensuring local cities take concrete action following the conference. "We are talking about critical steps to fight global climate change, and everyone will return to their cities to implement the decisions made. However, financial barriers may emerge, and we must also consider the future of our children. The fate of the world depends on the steps we take," he remarked.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Marmara Region
Bozbey continued, "The Marmara Region is home to 30 million people and is highly industrialized, making it the largest consumer of electricity in Türkiye. This brings significant environmental challenges, especially from factors such as shipping traffic in the Sea of Marmara, vehicle congestion, and the construction sector. However, through collaborative projects with all our municipalities, we aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region. As Mayor of Bursa, we are working toward making the city greener through renewable energy sources, sustainable eco-city projects, and our vision for 2050."
Other mayors also shared insights on their cities' climate actions and the challenges they face. Melek Mızrak Subaşı, Mayor of Bilecik, emphasized the importance of women's leadership in local climate actions, while Gökhan Yüksel, Mayor of Kartal, discussed the potential of smart city projects in tackling climate change in metropolitan areas. Zinnur Büyükgöz, Mayor of Gebze, highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of zero-waste initiatives, and Oktay Yılmaz, Mayor of Yıldırım, focused on how urban transformation projects can support climate change adaptation through energy efficiency and sustainable materials.
The Role of Women in Addressing the Climate Crisis
Melek Mızrak Subaşı drew attention to the role of women in climate leadership, stating: "We know that disasters like climate change do not affect all segments of society equally. Vulnerable groups, including women, the elderly, children, and those from different socio-economic backgrounds, experience these impacts differently. Women and men can approach these issues from different perspectives. In Türkiye, women’s leadership in local climate actions is a crucial step in transforming communities. While women are disproportionately affected by climate change, their representation in addressing this global issue remains low. It is essential to involve all stakeholders in the process of creating Local Climate Action Plans and ensuring community ownership for success."
Zero Waste Initiatives
Zinnur Büyükgöz, Mayor of Gebze, shared: "We are proud to be the first municipality in Türkiye to develop a climate change action plan at the district level. Through this plan, we are reducing waste, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and working to leave a sustainable environment for future generations. Our zero-waste projects contribute to both environmental and economic transformation, creating jobs in the recycling industry and helping to reduce landfill waste. These initiatives not only address today’s challenges but also represent a vital investment in securing our future."
"We Are Talking Too Much About the Climate Crisis and Taking Too Little Action"
Gökhan Yüksel, Mayor of Kartal, addressed the challenges of combating climate change in metropolitan areas: "Climate change should remain our central focus. The primary challenge we face is financial. Kartal is full of buildings constructed before the 1999 earthquake, and our biggest problem is the combination of old, unsafe buildings and natural disaster risks. When undertaking urban transformation or building new structures, we must ensure that the buildings are energy self-sufficient. We have a new planned area in Kartal where our goal is to create a smart city. We are strengthening regulations beyond the legal criteria for construction permits. We are talking too much about the climate crisis and not moving quickly enough. This is true not just for Türkiye, but for the whole world. The world needs to act swiftly."
Adapting to Climate Change: A Top Priority
Oktay Yılmaz, Mayor of Yıldırım, focused on how urban transformation projects can help cities adapt to climate change: "Türkiye is going through a critical period regarding climate change. The wildfires in the south and floods in the north bring this issue into sharper focus. While developing our urban transformation projects, we are not only renovating buildings but also creating green spaces, increasing permeable surfaces, and prioritizing climate adaptation. In our projects, we are improving energy efficiency through solar energy systems, as well as implementing rainwater harvesting and landscape irrigation systems. These efforts are crucial steps toward increasing energy efficiency and using sustainable materials."
The session concluded with a strong emphasis on the essential role of local governments in creating innovative and resilient solutions to the climate crisis. The mayors shared examples of best practices in areas such as zero waste, urban transformation, and gender equality, demonstrating how cities can lead the way in global climate action.
Local climate change data in Data Marmara Open Data Portal
Questions from the audience were also included at the end of the panel. Upon the questions, MMU Secretary General Dr Cemil Arslan reminded that the data tables that mirror the current situation of the municipalities regarding climate change action plans, greenhouse gas inventories and zero waste capacity status can be followed on the data.marmara.gov.tr open data portal.
