Izmir Citizen Assembly for Climate Project, which we, as Yuva Association, launched in January 2025 in partnership with Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and HUDOTO, is a democratic platform that aims to increase the participation of local people in climate policies and develop common solutions in the fight against climate change.
Izmir exceeded 35°C for only 9 days in 1990 and 44 days in 2024. Izmir Citizens’ Assembly for Climate, established with the participation of citizens of different ages, genders, professions and income groups from all districts of Izmir, which is moving towards a hotter, drier and more risky future with each passing year, shares its own experiences and produces collective solutions against the effects of extreme heat.
The Assembly was established to provide a participatory and inclusive platform in the city and focuses on developing practical and effective methods based on scientific data and social needs. Finding solutions to the climate crisis is not only the responsibility of central governments, but also of local governments and citizens. In this respect, the Izmir Citizens’ Assembly for Climate brings together people from different segments of Izmir to increase their contribution to decision-making and policy-making processes, as well as raising awareness about the significant impacts of the climate crisis in Izmir.
Izmir Citizens’ Assembly for Climate is committed to strengthening the understanding of co-management, creating a platform where citizens directly affected by the climate crisis can share their demands and experiences, and accordingly shape Izmir’s policies and practices.
It is of great importance that the participation process is conducted in a fair, transparent, and democratic manner. Conducting the election process entirely through random selection software prevents any individual or group from gaining a privileged position. The election process aims to ensure that participants have equal opportunities to be represented in parliament and that all segments of society are represented. The participation process is not limited to a specific age group or professional group; young people, adults, the elderly, and citizens from different economic and social groups are included in parliament. The participation of a wide range of participants, such as workers, students, academics, farmers, business people, and retirees, ensures that climate policies are more inclusive. One of the most important reasons for this is that different age and social groups face different problems in a multifaceted issue such as climate change. For example, a farmer living in a rural area may be directly affected by the depletion of water resources, while a city resident may feel the effects of extreme heat on transportation or energy consumption more acutely. Reflecting these diverse experiences and perspectives in the council facilitates the development of more effective and comprehensive policies.
The first activity of the 15-month project, which starts in January 2025, is the establishment of the Steering Committee with the participation of a team of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality employees and administrators and HUDOTO. The Steering Committee collaborates on the Izmir Citizens’ Assembly for Climate Project, determines the topic of work for Izmir, and organizes a study visit abroad to learn about the experiences of Climate Assemblies abroad and to feed the Izmir Climate Assembly with this experience.
