Karşıyaka Sustainable Energy in Local Governments and Climate Action Plan in Municipalities Meeting, organized by the Municipality, discussed the effects of the climate crisis and methods of combating it. Participating in the program, Deputy Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Mustafa Özuslu, said, "We saw that the only way to be resistant to disasters and epidemics is to live a life in harmony with nature and to build our cities in harmony with nature."
Karşıyaka Municipality organized "Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan Municipalities Meeting in Local Governments". İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Mustafa Özuslu, CHP Deputy Chairman for Nature Rights and Environment Ali Öztunç, CHP Deputy Chairman for Energy and Infrastructure Projects Ahmet Akın, CHP İzmir MPs, CHP Party Assembly Member Rıfat Nalbantoğlu, participated in the program at Zübeyde Hanım Wedding Palace. CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Deniz Yücel, mayors and many citizens attended.
“City-oriented struggle that is right”
The keynote speaker of the meeting Karşıyaka Mayor Cemil Tugay stated that the climate crisis has now clearly affected everyone's life. Tugay said, “Some studies are being carried out with a centralist approach, but I do not think that this is a way to achieve results. It is not possible for a process to be successful if you do not listen to local governments and include them in the solution of local problems," he said. Pointing out that the climate issue is a supra-political issue, Tugay said that 55 percent of the world's population lives in cities, so an urban-oriented struggle would be more correct. Brigay emphasized that municipalities should have more authority in this struggle and that more resources should be given to municipalities.
“We must protect the unique nature of the city and grow it”
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Mustafa Özuslu said that although people have nowhere else to go, they drag their own home into a great ecological destruction with their own hands. Stating that the world is moving away from being a livable place at a great pace, Mustafa Özuslu stated that as İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, they act with an understanding that prioritizes people, youth and the right to life of all living things, and continued: Protecting and growing is among our top priorities. That's why we prepared two strategic reports at international standards in 2020. These reports, which were approved by the Izmir Metropolitan Assembly in 2021, are the Green City Action Plan and the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan. These plans draw our roadmap for Izmir's adaptation to nature and our fight against the climate crisis.”
“We are the climate and we will change”
Noting that as Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, they not only put forward the problems, but also take responsibility in every necessary area and will continue to do so, Özuslu said, “We continue on our way with the aim of nature's penetration into the city, people's penetration of nature, circular economy and strengthening the cultural connections between the rural area and the metropolitan area in İzmir. We have seen that the only way to be resistant to disasters and epidemics is to live a life in harmony with nature and to develop our cities in harmony with nature. Cities are the first to face the effects of climate change. Cities act as nations speak. That is exactly what we are trying to do together here today. Nature is both so powerful and yet so fragile, we can reclaim nature, we can make peace with it, because we have nowhere else to go. "We are the climate and we will change," he said.
“Turkey is losing its wetlands”
CHP İzmir Deputy Murat Minister also said in his speech that the world has become an uninhabitable place. Murat Minister said, “The world is entering a new economic order. This is the carbon-free economic order. The European Union signed the European Green Deal in 2019. One of its consequences is a border carbon tax. He says to Turkey, 'You produce high carbon emissions with low technology and compete with us. You are causing a carbon leak. We will impose a carbon tax on you,' he says. However, we produce less emissions with high technology. If Turkey faces a carbon tax, it's 70 Euros per ton. In other words, it will face a burden of 2.4 billion Euros. Is the government prepared for this? No,” he said.
“There is a nuclear waste site in the middle of your city”
CHP Deputy Chairman for Nature Rights and Environment Ali Öztunç, on the other hand, pointed out that the climate crisis is one of the most important problems experienced by the world, and drew attention to Atatürk's words "Peace at home, peace in the world", drawing attention to the war. Pointing out that Europe is now once again faced with the danger of a Chernobyl, Öztunç said, “A serious natural massacre is taking place. It remains silent again. Why don't those who talk about 'what will Russia do, what will it do' because it has nuclear weapons, not see İzmir? There is a nuclear waste site in Gaziemir, in the middle of İzmir. Those who look at Chernobyl should also look at Izmir. There's a nuclear waste site in the middle of a city of yours, the measurements are unbelievably high. Why isn't something being done?" he said.
“The world adjusts its policies according to the sun”
CHP Deputy Chairman for Energy and Infrastructure Projects Ahmet Akın also stated that there is a major climate crisis in Turkey and in the world, “More than 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions originate from energy. That's why we need to start working with energy. Renewable energy and solar are at the center of our energy policies. In order to leave a livable Turkey and the world, we focus on renewable energy and the sun. I heartily congratulate our municipalities. I congratulate my president Tunç for his work and vision in the field of energy. This will continue to increase. Over time, you will see how carbon emissions have decreased in İzmir. We have municipalities that have implemented energy cooperatives for the first time in Turkey. By 2050, 70 percent of the world's population will live in cities. That is why the work of our mayors is very important.”
In the program, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Şükran Nurlu also gave information about the works carried out by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality against the climate crisis.
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