President of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (UMT) and Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Fatma Şahin attended the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
The 27th edition of the conference, which is held in different countries every year to discuss and decide on the negotiation issues under the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, convened in Egypt this time. In the conference, where more than 100 government officials and policy makers from approximately 190 countries and more than 40 thousand participants took part, issues such as greenhouse gas emission reduction plans, adaptation to climate change, climate compensation committed to developing countries constituted the most important agenda items of the summit.
Along with President Şahin, Mayor of Denizli Metropolitan Municipality Osman Zolan and Mayor of Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality Mehmet Sekmen also attended the summit.
Mayors presented best practice examples in Türkiye
In the panel titled "The Role of Local Governments in Climate Action" organized by UMT and moderated by Nuri Özbağdatlı, UNDP Turkey Climate Change and Environment Portfolio Manager, Şahin shared the efforts to combat and adapt to the climate crisis on a local basis, Mayor Sekmen spoke about the good practices in the field of environment and climate implemented in Erzurum, and Mayor Zolan gave information about the work on green transformation in energy in Denizli.
ICLEI Global Advocacy Director Yunus Arıkan and UCLG-World Policy Director Jean Baptiste Buffet also contributed to the panel with their presentations.
Şahin emphasized the importance of local in the fight against climate change
Şahin then participated as a speaker in the Panel on Localizing Sustainable Development Goals as Urgent Climate Action, moderated by Dr. Erfan Ali, UN-Habitat Regional Director for Arab Countries, and shared the work on combating climate change and green energy in Türkiye and Gaziantep.
In her speech, Şahin stated: "Democratization, localization and civilization are very important. Development and democracy start locally. Great transformations start with local practices. Those who think locally and act globally will manage this change and transformation in the best way. One of the main challenges is trained human resource. We need to create the appropriate human resources in sustainability from ecology to economy, environmental and humanitarian development."
UN-HABITAT Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Egyptian Minister of Planning and Economy Dr. Hala El-Said, UNDP Deputy Administrator Usha Rao-Monar and Local 2030 Steering Committee Member and UN Ocean and Climate Advisor Susan Ruffo also took part in the panel.
Şahin attended the opening of the Türkiye pavilion
On the second day of the summit, together with the accompanying delegation Şahin attended the Turkish pavilion opened by Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. Making the opening speech, Minister Kurum announced Türkiye's 2053 'Net Zero' emission target. Minister Kurum said that the new document was prepared with scientific data in consultation with all municipalities, ministries, NGOs, universities and private sectors.
Minister Kurum announced Türkiye's National Contribution Declaration
Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum announced the updated National Contribution Declaration at the Plenary Session of the Leaders Summit at COP27. Accordingly, Türkiye's emission reduction target was increased from 21 percent to 41 percent by 2030 and 2038 was set as the emission peak date.
Stating
that Türkiye has started a new era in green transformation with its 2053 net
zero target, Kurum also mentioned the draft Climate Change Law and domestic
automobile TOGG in his speech and said that the aim of 'Türkiye's Century',
which puts the environment, people and nature at the center, is to leave no one
behind . "Implementing the Paris Agreement is no longer a choice but a
necessity for all countries” he underlined and said “In this sense, we all have
to successfully realize the green transformation in our countries by producing
effective policies."
Şahin had important meetings
Şahin met with some of the key figures from various international organizations Nandita Parshad, Director of EBRD Sustainable Infrastructure Group, Jean Pierre Elongbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa, Tadashi Matsumoto, OECD Sustainable Urban Initiative Development Branch Manager and Fabrizio Rossi, Secretary General of CEMR. President Şahin also met with UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif and shared Türkiye’s environmental and energy-related activities.
Türkiye's stand attracted attention
Türkiye's stand at the exhibition at the summit featured activities such as combating mucilage, adaptation to climate change, green transformation in sectors, zero waste and renewable energy. President Şahin, who visited the stand with the accompanying delegation, adressed the visitors by saying: "Every city should have its own energy action plan and circular system. Therefore, transportation is the biggest pollutant while managing the energy related aspects. We said let's switch to electric transportation in public transportation. If you don't spread this to the whole society, it is just speeches"