The 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), one of the largest climate organizations in the world, started in Antalya.
UCLG-MEWA Climate Ambassador, Marmara Municipalities Union and Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Akın attended the "Evidence-Based Urban Resilience: From Data and Planning to Climate Action" session organized by İlbank in the Blue Zone. In addition to Akın, Gebze Mayor Zinnur Büyükgöz, ICLEI Sustainable Finance Global Coordinator Meggan Spires and CDP Cities, States and Regions Senior Manager Emilie Becault attended the session moderated by Marmara Municipalities Union Secretary General Mehmet Cemil Arslan.
“WE WILL REDUCE OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 40 PERCENT BY 2030”
Stating that success is possible not only by preparing strategies and action plans but also by turning the determined targets into concrete projects, measurable results and sustainable investments, Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Akın said, "First of all, we need to know our cities well and analyze their geographical, economic and environmental characteristics, climate risks and needs correctly. Because the way each city is affected by climate change is different. Therefore, the solutions are different. Balıkesir has a very wide geography, agriculture, animal husbandry, forests, water resources, with coasts on the Marmara and Aegean Seas. We are a city that experiences many different climate risks at the same time with its resources and strong local economy. Therefore, as Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality, we have prepared our Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) and will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030. We have evaluated existing plans and projects in this process. We continue our work and develop waste equals value projects. We produce energy and bring waste back into the economy in our mechanical separation facility. We also ensure that agricultural and agricultural wastes are collected separately in our rural neighborhoods with our "Healthy Agriculture Zero Waste Clean Balıkesir" project. he said.
“WE ARE BRINGING EKOKTOWN TO LIFE”
Stating that they have made investments in the field of water management and climate-resistant infrastructure to protect water resources, reduce losses and strengthen the treatment infrastructure through BASKİ, Akın said, "We convert seawater into drinking water with the seawater treatment facility on Marmara Island. We also renew drinking water networks in all our districts and reduce leakages. Our summer and winter population are very different from each other. Our population is 1.5 million in winter, increasing to 4 million in summer. We have an installed capacity of 1,467 MW in wind energy." We are implementing our "Ekokasaba" project, which is a first in Turkey, with our Floating Solar Power Plant that we designed on the pond belonging to our municipality. Reducing disaster risks, increasing green areas and nature-based solutions are among our priorities. We prefer drought-resistant plant species in areas that require intensive irrigation. We provide sustainable life to our children through water conservation, biodiversity, forest and soil ecosystems. We provide training that explains. he said.
“COLLABORATIONS WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED”
Stating that they need financing and strong inter-institutional cooperation, Akın said, "Financing is one of the most important issues for municipalities. Therefore, strengthening the financial capacity of municipalities and developing cooperation with international financial institutions is of great importance. As metropolitan municipalities, we have a certain institutional capacity. However, due to the multi-dimensional nature of climate change, we need to benefit from different expertise and develop new collaborations. When we look at Balıkesir specifically, we look at water supply security, reducing water losses and leaks, developing wastewater treatment infrastructure, and renewable energy investments. "The creation of a disaster-resistant infrastructure is among our priority investment areas. In order to realize these investments, the French Development Agency, led by ILBANK, is among our important stakeholders. On the other hand, the participation of the society in the process is as important as inter-institutional cooperation in order to achieve the success of climate policies." he said.
“OUR GOAL IS A MORE PREPARED, RESILIENT AND LIVIBLE BALIKESİR”
Pointing out that the effects of climate change do not affect all segments of society in the same way, Akın said, "We need to take into account the needs of women, children, the elderly, the disabled and economically fragile groups in both planning and implementation processes. We believe that we can strengthen the climate resilience of our cities not only with infrastructure investments, but also with social participation, solidarity and common responsibility. At this point, as Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality, our goal is to be more prepared, more resilient and more livable with determination, accurate data-based planning, investments determined according to needs, strong collaborations and sustainable financing." is to create a Balıkesir.” he said.
“WE SHOULD MAKE CLIMATE ACTION A PART OF ALL THE ACTIVITIES OF MUNICIPALITIES”
"Strong institutional structures and sustainable financing opportunities are needed in the fight against climate change," said Akın, and continued: "First of all, we need to make climate actions a part of all the work of our municipalities. Because climate change is not only an environmental issue. It directly concerns many service areas, from transportation to energy, from water management to agriculture, from infrastructure to city planning. Therefore, it is very important to associate climate targets with the strategic plans and investment programs of our municipalities. In addition, we need regular monitoring, evaluation, reporting and measurement mechanisms. Fighting climate change requires different levels of government to act together. Therefore, it is of great importance that municipalities should be not only implementers but also active stakeholders in decision-making and policy development processes. Water basins, seas, agricultural production areas and ecological systems do not act according to municipal boundaries. It is very important to cooperate and act together on a regional scale. We believe that municipal unions and city networks can play an important role in the climate risks and needs of each city. Even though they are different, a significant part of the problems we face are common.”
CALL FOR COOPERATION FROM AKIN
Akın stated that, as the Union of Marmara Municipalities, they serve for this purpose, and that they support the development of common goals, information sharing and experience transfer between municipalities through studies within the scope of the Marmara Sea Action Plan, Climate Neutral Cities Network and the Mayors' Agreement for Climate and Energy. Pointing out that relations should also be strengthened on an international scale, Akın said, "Organizations such as ICLEI, CDP and UCLG offer important opportunities to municipalities in terms of technical knowledge, capacity development and international experience sharing. However, we attach importance to the fact that these platforms turn into mechanisms where municipalities develop joint projects, access technical expertise, meet with financing institutions and establish concrete collaborations, not only through meetings and experience sharing. In particular, project development, technical support, transferring successful practices to other cities and creating a sustainable solidarity network between municipalities are of great importance. In this context, We see the Sustainable Urban Resilience Finance Initiative, that is, SURFF, which came to the agenda during the COP31 process, as a great opportunity for us in terms of the investment priorities determined by municipalities in their climate action plans and national and international financing opportunities. As the Marmara Municipalities Union, we provide services for this purpose through our work within the scope of the Marmara Sea Action Plan, Climate Neutral Cities Network and the Mayors' Agreement for Climate and Energy. "In addition, relations need to be strengthened on an international scale. Organizations such as ICLEI, CDP and UCLG offer important opportunities to municipalities in terms of technical knowledge, capacity development and international experience sharing. In this context, we see the Sustainable Urban Resilience Finance Initiative, that is, SURFF, which was brought to the agenda during the COP31 process, as a great opportunity for us in terms of investment priorities determined by municipalities in their climate action plans and national and international financing opportunities." he said.
