MMU at the 12th World Urban Forum in Cairo: Promoting Sustainable Urban Solutions
From November 4-8, 2024, the Marmara Municipalities Union (MMU) actively participated in the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12), held in Cairo. Focused on sustainable urbanization, climate resilience, local financing, and innovative urban solutions, MMU contributed to global discussions on strengthening local governments' roles in building resilient cities. Themed “It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities,” WUF12 convened over 35,000 participants from 182 countries to exchange best practices and collaborative strategies for urban sustainability.
Highlighting MARUF at the MMU Booth
MMU’s booth, themed around the Marmara Urban Forum (MARUF), showcased MMU’s vision and key projects, including highlights from MARUF23 and upcoming MARUF25. Through interactive games and educational activities, international visitors engaged with MMU’s work in urban sustainability and learned about upcoming events that aim to advance collaborative solutions for cities.
Key Sessions Led by MMU on Climate, Finance and Innovation
MMU hosted and joined seven major sessions that tackled critical urban challenges:
Reimagining Cities Through Nature: Partnering with Metropolis and the Seoul Institute, MMU Secretary-General M. Cemil Arslan discussed megacities' challenges, such as traffic congestion and pollution in the Marmara region, and explored how digital and nature-based solutions can address these issues.
Bridging the Gap - Unlocking Finance for Local Climate Projects: In collaboration with ICLEI and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), MMU’s Director of International Affairs Burcuhan Şener moderated discussions on overcoming financial and bureaucratic barriers for climate projects, emphasizing partnerships and funding strategies for local governments.
Cities as our Home Building Climate Resilience with Local Finance and Community-Focused Technology: Görsev Argın Uz, MMU’s Director of Training and Projects, discussed innovative financing models and community-focused technologies that can enhance climate resilience, highlighting the value of citizen participation.
Cities Developing Solutions - MARUF (Marmara Urban Forum) Report: MMU’s Corporate Communications Coordinator Hatice Çetinlerden and Urban Policy Center Director Ezgi Küçük Çalışkan presented insights from the MARUF report, focusing on resilience, gamification in urban planning, and the importance of integrated social, economic, and environmental solutions.
Heat, Health, Housing Reflecting on Gaps and Opportunities in a Changing Climate: Özge Sivrikaya, Director of MMU’s Sustainability and Climate Change Center, led discussions on adapting urban housing to combat rising temperatures, emphasizing solutions for low-income areas and the reduction of social inequalities.
Cost of Urban Transformation in the Coastal Cities of Southern Albania: İrem Kurtuluş Korkmaz, MMU Senior Urban Policy Expert, highlighted the challenges coastal cities face due to climate change, presenting sustainable infrastructure strategies from Türkiye.
Prominent Visits and Support at MMU Booth
Among the visitors to the MMU booth were Deputy Minister Ömer Bulut, Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul and President of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, and İLBANK General Manager Recep Türk. These leaders expressed their commitment to supporting MMU’s goals, particularly in advancing MARUF’s role in fostering regional and environmental collaboration.
Closing with the Cairo Declaration
WUF12 concluded with the Cairo Declaration, urging local governments to lead in sustainable development and address global urban challenges. The declaration reinforced WUF’s mission as a collaborative platform for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities.
About World Urban Forum (WUF)
Established by UN-Habitat, the biennial WUF brings together stakeholders to address cities’ social, economic, and environmental issues. WUF12’s theme underscored the importance of local actions in achieving global sustainable development goals, focusing on community-driven efforts for urban transformation.
This Year’s Theme: “It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities”
The theme of WUF12 this year, “It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities,” underscores the critical importance of local solutions for the future of cities. This theme highlighted the urgency of accelerating local actions to achieve sustainable development goals, emphasizing that real change begins at the community level.
