Metropolitan Municipality Announced Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan

Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Insect announced the "Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan" prepared by the Metropolitan Municipality. Stating that they have determined the concrete steps and roadmap for Antalya to be carbon neutral and a city resistant to the climate crisis by 2050, Mayor Insect said, "There is no doubt that this action plan will not be a plan prepared and shelved."

The introductory meeting of the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan prepared by Antalya Metropolitan Municipality was held at Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM) Perge Hall. Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Insect, Republican People's Party (CHP) Antalya Provincial President Nuri Cengiz, Demir Enerji Co-founder Caner Demir, TV Producer Güven İslamoğlu, representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), Metropolitan Municipality bureaucrats and many guests attended the meeting.

Time for Action, Not Discourse

Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Insect, who opened the meeting, said that they had a vital day for Antalya and its future. Expressing that he is very happy to introduce the “Antalya Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan”, Mayor Insect said, “We are aware that the damage to the world city Antalya from the climate crisis will be at national and international levels. We are also aware that the basic foundation and most precious treasure of Antalya, the capital of agriculture and tourism, is its environmental values.

It is a time for action, not discourse about climate. It is time for planning and implementation of practices.”

We are the first metropolitan to sign a contract

Underlining that they have acted with this responsibility and awareness since the day they took office, Mayor Muhittin Insect said: “We are the first metropolitan municipality in Turkey to be a member of the Convention of Mayors, which guides local governments to fight against global warming together. Within the scope of adaptation to climate change, we continue to carry out and disseminate exemplary practices in many areas such as landscape, agriculture, transportation, energy management, environmental health, water management, marine pollution and control, environmental education and awareness raising throughout the city.

15 Environmental Awards

President Muhittin Insect noted that they will continue to invest in clean energy investments, environmentally friendly transportation vehicles, smart structures, green city applications, and long-term environmental and nature-friendly projects, regardless of the cost. Emphasizing that the 14 environmental awards received at local, national and international levels in the last 3 years are the most important proof of their sensitivity towards the environment, Chairman Insect said, “I have just received the information of our 15th environmental award, which was awarded for our Environmental Education and Innovation Center from the Turkish Healthy Cities Association. This appreciation of our achievements shows how right we are and strengthens us even more.”

In addition to these awards, Mayor Muhittin Insect stated that they are proud of being the first municipality and the first public institution in Turkey to receive the "Climate Friendly Organization Certificate" given by TSE.

Carbon Neutral in 2050

Saying, “Now it's time to make Antalya a climate-friendly city,” said Mayor Insect, he continued: “We have prepared our action plan to guide our goal of neutral carbon Antalya. We have determined the concrete steps and roadmap to be taken for Antalya to reduce carbon by 40 percent in 2030, to be carbon neutral in 2050 and to become a climate crisis-resilient city. Our action plan will contribute to taking measures to prevent or minimize the damages that may be caused by climate change. It will also enable us to take advantage of the opportunities that may arise.”

Won't Stay on the Shelf

Chairman Insect concluded his speech as follows: “There is no doubt that this action plan will not be a plan that has been prepared and shelved. Our action plan will be presented to our first metropolitan council and will be transferred to our strategic plans to be implemented. Whoever takes office will work for the future of Antalya on the basis of this action plan. I wish that this responsibility we have taken will be beneficial for our Antalya, our country, humanity and the whole world.”

Climate Change Department Established

Later, he published a promotional video about the work of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality on Climate Change. Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Advisor to the Mayor, Environmental Engineer Lokman Atasoy, explained to the participants the work of the Metropolitan Municipality on climate change. Atasoy stated that the action plan was prepared within the framework of a plan and said, “As Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, we first established the Climate Change Branch Directorate. In 2022, we established the Climate Change Department. We prepare the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan and present it to the people of Antalya.”

Number of Ges will increase to 18

Explaining that Antalya is a city that receives 300 days of sunshine 365 days a year, Atasoy said, “We attach great importance to Solar Power Plant (GES) investments. We currently have 11 GES. We have made our plans to increase the number of SPPs to 18 in 2023. Our SPP investments provide an important support to agriculture and farmers. 74 percent of the electricity of our 51 irrigation cooperatives in Antalya is met by SPPs. We produce electricity equivalent to the energy consumed by 141,395 households on a monthly basis.”

Comprehensive Study

Demir Enerji Co-Founder Caner Demir explained that they carried out a comprehensive study on the Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Action Plan and said, “Antalya has a greenhouse gas emission of 4.25 tons. This figure is below the Turkey average. Here, a greenhouse gas inventory mainly originating from the buildings and transportation sector comes to the fore. Within the framework of adaptation to climate change, it is necessary to work on climate change in increasing green areas, managing water use, public health and disaster management, infrastructure and agricultural activities.

We have to be at peace with the world

At the meeting, TV producer, Nature Activist Güven İslamoğlu said, “What does the Climate Crisis want to tell us?” made a presentation entitled. Explaining the dangers awaiting the world due to global warming and climate change with striking examples, İslamoğlu commented on what the world wanted to tell us. "The world is now on the verge of extinction equal to a meteor strike," said Islamoglu, adding, "If we want to live in this world, we have to be at peace with the world."

We Face Ecological Destruction

Stating that we are facing an ecological destruction, Güven İslamoğlu said, “The reasons for this are overpopulation, lifestyle, dependence on fossil fuels and nutrition. Earth's axis has shifted 12 meters in the last 120 years. There are two main reasons for this. The decrease in the load on the land with the melting of the glaciers, together with the global warming, is the excessive use of groundwater. It has its own mechanism when the world warms. Factors such as excessive precipitation and climate change are the effects of this system to take action and to cool itself. Antalya has a very important natural structure. This has to be upheld. Antalya needs to protect its mountains. There are very important cedar forests," he said.

Güven İslamoğlu also answered the questions of the participants. At the end of the program, Metropolitan Mayor Muhittin Insect presented plaques to Güven İslamoğlu and Caner Demir.