Science-based fight against the climate crisis

Izmir Metropolitan Municipality has added a new one to its efforts to reduce the effects of climate change on the city and create a resilient city structure. The “Climate Ready Izmir: Development of Resilience Strategies (CRIZ-ERS) Project Dissemination Workshop” organized within the scope of the European Union-supported CLIMAAX project was held at the IzQ Innovation Center. In the workshop, solutions to the city’s multiple climate threats were discussed with a scientific approach.

What Awaits Izmir in the Coming Decades?

Erhan Uzunoğlu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of İZENERJİ AŞ, shared striking data on the effects of the climate crisis . Uzunoğlu stated that temperatures in İzmir could increase by up to 5 degrees between 2050 and 2070, which would have serious effects on energy use and carbon emissions. He also drew attention to the increasing risks of drought, falling groundwater levels, rising sea levels and salinization in coastal areas.

Officials reported that the climate risk assessment report prepared in the first phase of the CRIZ-ERS Project was submitted to the CLIMAAX platform, and stated that they analyzed the spatial distribution of extreme weather events with scientific data. This report, which maps risks such as heat waves, agricultural drought and floods on a city scale, is an important reference for Izmir for the future.

Konak District Selected as Pilot Region

The second phase of the project focuses on the Konak district. In this phase, higher resolution and local analyses will be conducted, and vulnerability maps, especially in disadvantaged neighborhoods, will be updated. Targeted steps are planned to be taken by determining which regions require priority intervention.

Adaptation Plans Will Be Prepared

In the third and final phase, Climate Adaptation Action Plans that can be applied in Izmir in general and Konak in particular will be prepared. In this context, stakeholder participation will be ensured, educational programs will be organized and social awareness will be increased with publicly available digital maps. CLIMAAX is not only a technical project, but is also considered a strategic tool for Izmir to be prepared for the climate crisis.

“Nature-Based Solutions Should Be Priority”

İzmir Planning Agency President Prof. Dr. Koray Velibeyoğlu emphasized that nature-based solutions are ideal for increasing the climate resistance of cities with their cheap, applicable and ecosystem-friendly structure. Velibeyoğlu said, “İzmir has high potential in this regard. We have to act with a common vision for the future.”

145 Thousand Euro Grant from Europe

Izmir is the first non-EU city to receive the European Commission's "EU Cities Mission Label" title. The grant of 145 thousand Euros for the CRIZ-ERS Project, within the scope of the work carried out with the aim of Climate Neutral Cities, also reveals the city's success in the international arena.

Bulletin

Source: News Center