Citizens selected from Antalya’s five central districts have begun evaluating the city’s water future with contributions from experts and through table discussions, addressing issues ranging from the impacts of the climate crisis on water resources and agricultural irrigation to water use in tourism and water losses and leakages.
The first two sessions of the Antalya Climate Assembly, implemented by Yuva Association with the support of the European Climate Foundation (ECF), were held on 26 and 27 September. Citizens selected from Antalya’s five central districts — Muratpaşa, Konyaaltı, Kepez, Aksu and Döşemealtı — in line with representation criteria came together for the first time to collectively assess the city’s water future.
The Assembly aims to ensure that decisions concerning Antalya’s water future are shaped not only by experts and institutions, but also by the knowledge, experiences and perspectives of people living in the city. During the first sessions, participants first examined Antalya’s existing water system and the impacts of the climate crisis on its water resources.
On the first day, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güray Doğan provided information on the impacts of the climate crisis on water resources and the vulnerability of the Mediterranean region to climate change. Prof. Dr. Bülent Topkaya presented Antalya’s water balance, explaining where the city’s water comes from and how its existing water resources are used. Following the expert presentations, Assembly members engaged in table discussions to collectively assess and map the water risks facing Antalya.
On the second day, the relationship between water and different areas of use and economic sectors in Antalya was explored. Ceren Şahin, Chair of the Antalya Branch of the Chamber of Environmental Engineers of TMMOB; Nazif Alp, Chair of the Muratpaşa Chamber of Agriculture; and Hüseyin Şimşek, a representative from the tourism sector, shared their experiences regarding the relationship between water, agriculture, tourism and urban life with the Assembly members.
This was followed by contributions from Prof. Dr. Ayşe Muhammetoğlu, Erdem Vardar, Founding Director of Yuva Association and Lead Facilitator of the Antalya Climate Assembly, and Attorney Tuncay Koç. Discussions addressed different dimensions of water management in Antalya, ranging from reducing water losses and leakages and nature-based solutions to water law and institutional responsibilities. Different perspectives on Antalya’s water future were considered throughout the discussions.
From Knowledge to Deliberation
During the first two sessions of the Antalya Climate Assembly, presentations by experts and representatives from different fields provided a starting point for participants’ questions and discussions. Following each presentation, Assembly members brought their own questions to the tables, considered different perspectives, and collectively discussed which issues required further information and which areas should be prioritised for Antalya’s water future.
The first two sessions addressed a wide range of issues, including groundwater, agricultural irrigation, water use in tourism, water consumption in urban life, water losses and leakages, the reuse of rainwater and wastewater, and the protection of water resources.
In this respect, the Antalya Climate Assembly is progressing not simply as a series of meetings in which experts provide information, but as a participatory deliberative process in which citizens acquire knowledge, compare different perspectives, develop questions and lay the foundations for common recommendations.
The Process Continues
Following the first two sessions, Assembly members are moving into the next stage of the process with the knowledge they have gained, the questions they have developed and the different perspectives they have considered. In the upcoming sessions, solution options and priority areas for action concerning Antalya’s water future will be examined in greater detail, followed by the development of common recommendations by the citizens.
The Antalya Climate Assembly consists of five sessions in total. Following the first two sessions held on 26 and 27 September, the meetings will continue on 10 and 11 October. The final session will take place on 24 October. The citizens’ recommendations developed through the Assembly process will be compiled into a report and shared with the public and relevant institutions.
The Antalya Climate Assembly aims to bring citizens with diverse life experiences together on a common platform for dialogue and deliberation, developing inclusive and actionable recommendations for Antalya’s climate future that are informed by the experiences of its citizens.
