The first session of the Izmir Climate Citizens’ Assembly, launched by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality in partnership with Yuva Association and HUDOTO Foundation to engage Izmir residents in climate policies, funded by the European Union (EU), supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and hosted by Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, took place. Speaking at the first session of the council, which consists of 50 people selected from 50,000 individuals invited via SMS, Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay said, “My advice to you is to be bold, relaxed, and free. Do what needs to be done. The success of the Citizens’ Assembly will lead to the establishment of new citizens’ assemblies in Turkey.”
The assembly’s first meeting was hosted by Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay at the Historic Akın Passage. Also attending the meeting were: Erdem Vardar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yuva Association; Erhan Uzunoğlu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of İZENERJİ; Dr. Hakan Uzun, Deputy Secretary General of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality; Yiğit Beydağ, Head of the Climate Change and Clean Energy Branch of the Climate Change and Zero Waste Department of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality; bureaucrats; and members of the İzmir Citizens’ Assembly for Climate.
“We are working to solve the problems.”
Noting that citizen assemblies have been implemented in various European countries since 2015, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay said, “There have been very successful examples in Europe. Like the rest of the world, İzmir is also affected by the climate crisis. Forest fires, drought, and warming sea temperatures are not unique to Izmir. Due to air temperatures, sea temperatures in the Gulf have reached their highest levels in history, exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. Algal blooms, fish deaths, and odor problems are occurring. We are working hard to solve problems that have accumulated over many years.”
Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, who participated in our first session, expressed his support for the process and emphasized the importance of citizens sharing their ideas courageously, freely, and comfortably. Stating that citizens’ ideas are also very important in the fight against the climate crisis, Mayor Tugay said:
“We want our citizens to participate in governance and have a say in the city’s climate policies. You will not just generate ideas here, express them theoretically, and then go home. You will also ask us to implement the ideas you generate. You are currently representing the city. You have the opportunity to do something for our city, for people, for the future. My advice to you is: be brave. Please relax, be free, and do what needs to be done. The success of the Citizens’ Assembly will lead to the establishment of new citizens’ assemblies in Turkey and the start of a process in Izmir to continue this work.
“We must take the initiative”
Drawing attention to the reports published by the IPCC, an organization under the United Nations that brings together thousands of scientists from hundreds of countries on the climate crisis, Mayor Tugay said, “About two years ago, I read a report that said, ‘If carbon emissions continue to increase, there will be no chance of reversal after 2027. At that time, I said we had 3-5 years left, now we have two years. Some things seem impossible, but they are actually possible. We must work together. Our citizens must also take the initiative,” he concluded.
Beydağ: This council is not just a project
Providing information about the council’s work, Yiğit Beydağ, Head of the Climate Change and Clean Energy Branch of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality’s Climate Change and Zero Waste Department, said, “Our goal is to ensure that you, our valued citizens, have a direct say in the face of the effects of climate change on our city and to strengthen the participation processes. This council is not just a project; it also serves as an exemplary initiative that strengthens democracy and participation in Izmir.”
Yuva Derneği Yönetim Kurulu Başkanı Erdem Vardar
Vardar: The solidarity in this hall will guide us all
Erdem Vardar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yuva Association, said, “I know that solidarity, thinking together, and collective wisdom will guide us again. We did not come here just to express our concerns; we are not here just to criticize. Today, we, as citizens of Izmir, have come together to be part of the solution. We share the concern for the future, the love of nature, and the longing for a livable Izmir. Perhaps so that our children can breathe the sea breeze like us, perhaps so that our grandchildren can play in the shade of plane trees, perhaps so that the scent of oregano never fades from the mountains of this beautiful city. Every suggestion that comes out of here will be a mark left on Izmir’s future. Izmir is a city that teaches us both to lose ourselves and to find our way again. From now on, it will be the solidarity in this hall that will guide us all on the issue of climate change,“ he said.
”We will publish 30 tangible proposals“
Following the speeches, Vardar gave a presentation explaining the process. Vardar said, ”At the end of the meetings, we will publish 30 tangible proposals. These recommendations will be integrated into the strategic plans prepared by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality in line with its Climate Action Plan and the 2030 Carbon Neutral Izmir targets. In general, they will be used in the municipality’s climate work. It is very important for us to be bold and free. All the words spoken here will remain anonymous. You can disagree with peace of mind, you can give stronger support. Our sole purpose here is not just to criticize but to propose solutions,” he said.
Composed of 50 people
Invitations were sent via SMS to 50,000 Izmir residents. Applications were received from 442 people who wanted to participate in the project. Data such as age, gender, district, education level, occupational group, and level of concern about climate change were considered among the applicants. The 50 members, selected to represent the demographic structure of Izmir, will seek answers together to the question, “How do we survive in a warming Izmir?” The Climate Citizens’ Assembly will hold a total of five sessions. Following the first meeting, it will convene on September 21, October 5, October 19, and November 2. The Assembly will address different topics in each session and conduct solution-oriented group work. At the end of the five sessions, the proposals developed by the citizens will be integrated into the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality’s Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP). Thus, the citizens’ demands, experiences, and solution proposals will be directly reflected in city policies.
The “Izmir Citizens’ Assembly for Climate,” carried out in partnership between the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Yuva Association, and HUDOTO Foundation, is funded by the European Union (EU) and supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) under the Civil Participation Grant Program. The 15-month project will contribute to Izmir’s goals of becoming a low-carbon and climate-resilient city.
