"Mediterranean Climate Summit" held at Türkan Saylan Contemporary Life Center on 28-29 September in cooperation with Muğla Metropolitan Municipality and ICLEI Europe; It brought together local governments, public institutions, scientists, civil society and international stakeholders. The summit aims to strengthen the cooperation of Mediterranean cities on common climate problems and to reveal regional priorities from a common perspective before COP31. At the top; Protection of water resources, drought, forest fires, biodiversity, coastal ecosystems and the role of local governments in the climate fight were evaluated.
DENİZLİ SHARED ITS ÇEŞME EXPERIENCE IN THE INTERNATIONAL PANEL
Çeşme Mayor Lâl Denizli spoke at the session titled "Mediterranean in the Transition Process: Climate Change and the Challenges Facing Cities" of the "A Resilient Mediterranean: Strengthening Local Leadership and Regional Cooperation" panel. In the panel moderated by ICLEI Europe Policy and Advocacy Leader Gökşen Şahin Licha, Mayor Denizli; Hebron Mayor Yousef Zuhair Hamed Aljabari was present together with Sarajevo Mayor Samir Avdić, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole Vice President and MedCities Deputy President Clare Hart, and Adana Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Zeydan Karalar. Denizli; He stated that climate change necessitates a holistic city management in cities such as Çeşme, where natural assets, tourism economy and quality of life are strongly interrelated. Denizli also stated that when planning the future of Çeşme, water, land, sea, agricultural production, infrastructure and tourism model were considered within the same sustainability perspective.
Referring to the pressure of the increasing population, especially in the summer months, on water resources, sewerage, waste management, transportation and other municipal services, Denizli said; He emphasized that spreading tourism over 12 months is not only an economic approach, but also a climate and resource management approach. He explained the studies carried out in Çeşme on the efficient use of water resources, gray water and rainwater harvesting practices, drought-adapted agricultural production, protection of local and endemic species, disaster preparedness and protection of coastal ecosystems.
“THE WOUNDS CAUSED BY THE CLIMATE CRISIS HAVE NO LIMITS”
Making evaluations after the summit, Mayor Denizli thanked the Union of Coastal Aegean Municipalities and Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras and Menteşe Mayor Gonca Köksal Aras for hosting and said:
"I was very happy to take part in the Mediterranean Climate Summit, which shared the experiences and solution proposals of local governments before COP31. We conveyed our feelings of solidarity to the Mayor of Hebron, Mr. Yousef Zuhair Hamed Aljabari, who joined our panel from Palestine, and to the Palestinian people, and expressed our hope for an end to what happened. It was extremely valuable to share the experiences of our cities and the solutions we need to develop locally with Mr. Clare Hart, Mr. Samir Avdić and Mr. Zeydan Karalar. "The climate crisis and the wounds it causes have no boundaries; its solution is only possible with solidarity. Drawing strength from the experiences of our cities, thinking together and acting together to protect the future of the Mediterranean is not only a choice, but an urgent necessity."
Denizli also emphasized that climate resilience cannot be seen as the sum of projects implemented by a single institution. Denizli pointed out that the effects of the climate crisis, from water management to disasters, from agriculture to tourism, exceed administrative borders; He pointed out the importance of strong data and technical capacity, long-term financing, inter-institutional coordination, scientific contribution and local governance models in which citizens participate in decision-making processes.
