Türkiye’s fight against climate change at the local level continues. In order to strengthen local climate action, six pilot provinces, taking a pioneering role within the scope of the “EU Partnership Project for Local Climate Action,” aim to prepare Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAP).
In this context, an introductory visit was held in Ordu on February 19, 2024. During the visit, attended by representatives from the Directorate of Climate Change, Department of Climate Change Adaptation and Local Policies, Ordu Metropolitan Municipality Department of Climate Change and Zero Waste, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Türkiye, information about the project and the preparation stages of the action plans were shared.
As part of the ongoing field visits with Elazığ, on February 23, 2024, a delegation consisting of Prof. Dr. Halil Hasar, the Director of Climate Change, Ms. Louisa Vinton, the Resident Representative of UNDP Türkiye, Ms. Fatma Tok Lazoğlu, Expert at the Directorate of Climate Change, Ms. Meral Mungan Arda, UNDP Türkiye Climate Change and Environment Portfolio Manager, Ms. Tuba Seyyah, UNDP Türkiye Climate Change Projects Coordinator, and Ms. Ceren Özkan, UNDP Türkiye Project Manager, met with the Mayor of Elazığ, Mr. Şahin Şerifoğulları.
Prof. Dr. Halil Hasar provided information about the vulnerability of the pilot provinces to climate change and the expected risks, emphasizing particularly the drought, which prioritizes Elazığ as one of the pilot provinces. Ms. Louisa Vinton emphasized the importance of not only creating but also implementing local climate change action plans for Elazığ, while Mayor Şahin Şerifoğulları expressed their willingness to participate in the project addressing climate change. He also mentioned Municipalities endeavours related to drinking and rainwater, aiming to reduce water loss rates to as low as 10%. The visit highlighted the significant impact of the earthquakes in February 2023 on the city and the need to increase collaboration for Elazığ.
In the upcoming dates, field visits will also be conducted in Antalya, Isparta, Kahramanmaraş, and Kastamonu provinces and the representatives from the Directorate of Climate Change, municipality officials, and UNDP Türkiye project representatives will begin the process of developing strategies and action plans to combat climate change.
The pilot provinces are determined to advance towards a sustainable future by taking a leading role in Türkiye’s fight against climate change.