London Mayor Sadık Han, one of the participants of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP31, came to Istanbul after Antalya.
Sadık Khan became the first Mayor of London to make an official visit to the city. Meeting with the business world, Sadık Khan's agenda included COP31 contacts, the fight against the climate crisis and Gaza.
Sadık Han also answered the questions of NTV's Derya Acemoğlu.
“LONDON AND ISTANBUL HAVE A LOT IN COMMON”
Drawing attention to the similarities between the two cities, Han said, "London and Istanbul are the two largest cities in the world throughout history. We have a lot in common; our diversity, the Bosphorus and the Thames river, people... One of the things we can learn from each other is the importance of trade and doing business together. Another is the difficulties created by climate change. Both are cities with very high population density."
“I WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY COP31”
While evaluating COP31, Sadık Han explained the road map in combating the climate crisis and gave examples from Istanbul. “I was really impressed by COP31,” said Han, adding:
"I had a wonderful three days there. Very productive meetings, lots of bilateral discussions. I hope we will leave this COP in a better place than where we started. As London, we are learning lessons from hot cities like Istanbul - planting the right kinds of trees to provide shade, providing access to free water to deal with heatwaves and making sure our public transport is fit for purpose. We're putting air conditioning in our trains, buses. We've never needed it before, but Istanbul had to do it."
We invest in public transportation. We have much to learn from each other, but we are also turning this crisis into an opportunity and creating skilled green jobs with our response to the climate emergency in London. Who will produce electric buses? Who will produce the solar panels? Who will build the wind turbines? Londoners and Istanbulites. "This is the best way to create employment."
“THINGS WHAT HAPPENED IN GAZA CANNOT BE ACCEPTED”
Gaza was also on Sadık Khan's agenda. Recalling the demonstrations of support for Palestine in London, Khan responded to US President Donald Trump, who frequently targets him, from the historical peninsula.
Stating that what happened in Gaza is unacceptable, Khan said: "This is a genocide. More than 70 thousand men, women and children have been killed. People have continued to be killed even since the so-called ceasefire. That is why it is incredibly important for Israel to understand the power of public opinion around the world. One of the best things about London is freedom of expression, the right to protest and demonstrate. It is really important for people to be able to express their views. London is a beacon of hope for multiculturalism, diversity and progressives. We are incredibly successful. Like President Trump." "This is why some people don't like us," he said.
Host Istanbul Chamber of Commerce President Şekib Avdagiç said that Sadık Han's visit to Istanbul will contribute to furthering the potential of the two cities.
Avdagiç said, "For the first time, the current mayor of London is visiting Istanbul. We are happy to host them and their team at the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce in such a process. Of course, we are examining the issue from three pillars. On the one hand, the development of mutual trade, the development of mutual tourism and the development of mutual investments. Important business people are among us today on all three issues."
