United we stand, divided we fall. Rome and Izmir together against climate change!
Thanks to the project, between the two countries there were exchanged experiences and best practices. The Turkish society is more and more engaged on issues of climate change.
Turkey and mainly the City of Izmir are more and more “green”: Karşıyaka Municipality decided to strengthen its commitment on climate protection. The Mayor of the Municipality, Cemil Tugay, has created a Department which deals on climate change. This pilot action has been widespread through the other municipalities of the City which have started to plan activities for the adaptation to climate change and to collaborate with civil society organizations on these topics. This goal has been achieved also thanks to Sustainable Civil Society Dialogue for Sustainable Development (SCSD-SD), a project coordinated by Kyoto Club and the Association, based on Izmir, Environmental Energy Association. SCSD-SD was co-financed by the European Union in the framework of the program Civil Society Dialogue – V, whose main aim is to strengthen the ties between Turkish civil society and Italian and European one to raise awareness among people and protect the Earth from the consequences of the climate change.
The main action of the project and the outputs reached during these months, have been illustrated today in a conference, held online, as part of the ASviS Sustainable Development Festival. The record of the conference is visible on the Kyoto Club’s Facebook page. The event was promoted by both organisation partners, Kyoto Club ed Environmental Energy Association. It has participated representatives of the environmental associations and members of the Institutions of Turkey and Italy.
Several interventions have reaffirmed the centrality of civil society in the fight against climate change. To overcome the climate challenge, the speakers said, needs the comm not only governments and institutions take action, but also the commitment of civil society: changing the system means working at 360 degrees on ecological conversion in all fields, starting from that of services, economy, agriculture, mobility, efficiency and production systems up to a rethinking of lifestyles.
"United we stand, divided fall. This slogan sums up the philosophy of Sustainable Civil Society Dialogue for Sustainable Development, whose objective is to strengthen the cooperation between Turkey and Italy on the theme of climate change. Izmir and Rome are closer now than before, thanks to the new bridges built in the months during which the project took place. The main idea of the project is to exchange best practices and transfer knowledge by bringing out what is most positive in the civil society of both countries. I would like to remember that the Turkish delegation visited Bologna last November, where it had the opportunity to deepen and study BLUE AP, the first national plan for adaptation to climate change created by the Municipality of the Emilian capital. A project to which have also contributed our Association " have declared the Director of Kyoto Club Sergio Andreis.
“Turkish civil society has been working hard with the growing cooperation of the civic, public and private sector. Climate change is one of the crucial global urgencies and most of the CSOs which work in other fields added combating climate change and global warming in their fields. Especially the associations working in the field of youth and business started to cooperate with CSOs to organise events and activities on Sustainable Development Goals of UN and climate change. Climate networks have been built by civil society organisations and public authorities with the support of the private sector to continue to support and strengthen the cooperation to combat climate change.” have affirmed Hazal Coskun, Secretary General of Environmental Energy Association.
“Karşıyaka munıcıpalıty, cares about and pays attentıon to clımate change, renewable energy resources and waste management. Karşıyaka Municipality is aware of its responsibilities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. In this context, it aims to expand energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy resources within the district boundaries. Our aim is to provide high quality of life and low carbon density. Karşıyaka Municipality has preferred solar energy investments as a renewable energy source due to its regional characteristics. Solar energy was first used in park and road lighting. We have 2 solar farm projects. The first solar farm (493 KWP) has been producing energy since 2014. Our second solar farm (990 KWP) will start energy production at the end of this year. Our first solar farm has generated 3285.3 MWH energy since 2014, as well as 1.775 Tons of carbon dioxide emission has been reduced. We take all of the Domestic Waste, we then send it for recycling, recovery ,reuse, and disposal” said the Council Member for Environment Commission of Karşıyaka Municipality, Saadet Çağlın.
Download the program (pdf)
Watch the recording of the conference on the Kyoto Club Facebook page
