STORMLOG Project Closing Meeting Held

Mayor Eşki: “Our issue is not only about energy; it is about vision. Turkey belongs in the European Union.”

Bornova Municipality’s STORMLOG Project, funded by the European Union, concluded with a closing meeting. The sustainable transportation and water management activities carried out in cooperation with Bornova Municipality, Yaşar University, and Energy Cities were presented to the public. Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized that beyond the project’s technical outcomes, it represents a vision for Turkey’s reconnection with its European Union aspirations. During the meeting, the project’s implementations, academic presentations, and the results of international study visits were shared.

The closing meeting of the “Sustainable Urban Transport and Water Management in Local Government Services (STORMLOG)” Project—implemented under the Climate Change Adaptation Grant Program—was held at the Main Conference Hall of Yaşar University. The event began with the screening of the project’s introductory film and a video message from Project Expert Stephan Dupas, who congratulated all partners for successfully completing the project.

Mayor Eşki: “We had the capacity to do these projects, but what mattered was putting forward a vision”

In his speech, Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized the importance of the broader vision Turkey needs, rather than the technical deliverables:

“You have just heard what has been done within the project. Solar panels were installed on the pool in Çamdibi. The lighting in Çamdibi Park was converted to LED. We added two 17-seat electric vehicles to our fleet and installed electric charging stations.

We did not actually need a project to do any of this—Bornova Municipality could have carried it out with its own resources.

Our real issue here is a matter of vision. There is a national goal that has weakened and nearly been forgotten in Turkey: the European Union. The most concrete way to carry our Republic’s strength into contemporary civilization is full EU membership.

I wish we did not need this. Although our Republic is over 100 years old, we still see the EU standards as a way to overcome some inherited structural problems. I participate in EU projects for this very reason—to keep at least a spark of hope alive within that pathway.

If we had become a full member of the EU, we would not have lost 301 citizens in the Soma mine disaster; dozens would not have died publicly and preventably in the Bolu fire; femicides would not be this severe. Our children would live in a safer country.

We are not here just to turn on a lamp or save energy—we are working to open the door to a future where reason, science, and the rule of law prevail.”

Mayor Eşki also announced a new target for Bornova:

“We will soon turn the newly built park next to you in Çamdibi into Bornova’s first smart park—a park that generates its own irrigation and electricity from wind and solar power. The path Turkey must follow is the one guided by reason and science.”

Vice Rector Gevrek: “Cities are both the source and the victim of the climate crisis”

Prof. Dr. Aylin Güney Gevrek, Vice Rector of Yaşar University, highlighted the critical role of cities in the climate crisis:

“Today, 55% of the world’s population lives in cities. Cities account for 75% of energy consumption and 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. Climate-related risks such as rising temperatures, floods, forest fires, droughts, and biodiversity loss are rapidly increasing. Bornova Municipality—located in a country heavily affected by these risks—is one of the leading environmentally conscious municipalities and sets an example for other local governments.”

“Good ideas are not enough; vision, implementation, and determination are essential”

Volkan Kocagül, EU Expert at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underlined the significant effort required to implement grant-funded projects:

“Transforming an idea into action through vision and determination requires great dedication. I thank the decision-makers and the project team.”

He also provided information on new upcoming grant programs during the closing remarks.

Technical Presentations and Panel

In the second part of the event, the following comprehensive presentations were made by project partners and academics:

• Prof. Dr. Arif Hepbaşlı – General Project Overview

• Erdem Muhtaroğlu, Head of Foreign Affairs Department, Bornova Municipality – Implementations in Bornova

• Prof. Dr. Nurdan Yıldırım – Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan

• Dr. Emin Selahattin Umdu – Roadmaps

• Dr. Duygu Çınar Umdu – Survey Results

Academics who participated in the study visits to Brussels, Lisbon, and Valladolid shared their experiences. In the final session, Fatma Mesutgil, Director of Climate Change and Zero Waste, and Çağdaş Esin Hışır, Director of Environmental Protection and Control, presented Bornova Municipality’s environmental and climate efforts.

STORMLOG Project in Numbers

• Lead Applicant: Bornova Municipality

• Partners: Yaşar University, Energy Cities

• Contracting Authority: Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change

• Duration: 21 Months (15 December 2023 – 14 December 2025)

• Total Budget: €499,903.97

• Grant: €449,913.57 (90%)

• Bornova Municipality Co-Financing: €49,999.40 (10%)

Implementations Carried Out Under the Project

• Installation of solar panels at Çamdibi Dr. Şaban Acarbay Pool

• Procurement of two 17-seat electric minibuses

• Installation of four vehicle charging stations and two wheelchair charging units

• Conversion to LED lighting at Çamdibi Atatürk Park