Effective Climate Policies: Local Energy And Transformation Seminar Is Held
Marmara Municipalities Union started its 2022 Environmental Management seminars with “Effective Climate Policies: Transformation of Local Energy”. The seminar, moderated by Environmental Management Coordinator Ahmet Cihat Kahraman with the participation of representatives from municipalities, water and sewerage administrations and municipal subsidiaries, was broadcast live.
With the Paris Climate Agreement taking effect in Turkey, the process of decreasing the effects of climate change and adaptation to climate change has accelerated. Local Government have very important duties in ensuring the efficiency potential in the energy consumption of the public according to Energy Efficiency Law.
The seminar organized on understanding the importance of the law in terms of climate change policies, sharing the applicability in energy-intensive local government services and the economic gains to be achieved. In this regard, the Head of Energy Efficiency and Environment Department of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources Dr. Abdullah Buğrahan Karaveli, SHURA Energy Transformation Center Senior Energy Analyst Yael Taranto, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Environmental Protection and Control Department Head Prof. Dr. Ayşen Erdinçler and Akenerji Elektrik Üretim A.Ş. Deputy General Manager Can Gülcan and Akenerji / Escosolar Partnership Projects Manager Cem Muslular made presentations.
ADAPTATION TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE WILL BE SHAPED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Dr. Abdullah Buğrahan Karaveli said ‘’Energy Efficiency is the only policy to combat climate change as well as reduce energy costs and foreign dependency. In fact, it is a process that will be shaped through local governments, and its impact on society at a macro scale is great.”
ISTANBUL METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY (IMM) WORKED ON TO ACHIEVE ITS 2050 CARBON NEUTRAL GOAL
Prof. Dr. Ayşen Erdinçler, head of IMM Enviromental Protection and Control Department, listed the problems awaiting local governments in the context of climate change and local governments like air pollution, significant weather events, public health, food safety, social and economic factors. Prof. Erdinçler has also stated that IMM is very actively participated in the COP26 process, and that Istanbul is the only C40 member city from Turkey.
She also informed about the reducing greenhouse gas emissions, activities, and sectoral rates in the context of the climate change. IMM aims to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by 55% in 2030 and the Carbon Neutral Goal in 2050 in cooperation with C40.
The Agreement between EU Western Balkan Countries and Turkey’s Mayors for Energy Transformation, in which also membered by Marmara Municipalities Union, aims a sustainable energy and climate change action plan in harmony with Istanbul Climate Change Action Plan.
