Bornova Municipality Builds a Strong Bridge to the Global Climate Summit

Bornova Municipality has stepped up its local climate action ahead of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), which will be hosted by Antalya from November 9 to 20, 2026. A panel held at Yaşar University under the vision “Bornova on the Road to COP31: Local Action for the Climate,” followed by a visit to Doğanlar Community Garden, highlighted the district’s pioneering role in global climate diplomacy.

Ahead of the COP31 Summit, which will bring together world leaders, heads of state, and global climate stakeholders in Antalya, Bornova Municipality brought together the city’s academic and professional communities at Yaşar University’s Main Conference Hall. At the well-attended panel, experts discussed local and global climate solutions under several key themes.

Experts Discussed the Future of Climate Action

Dr. Mert Bite from Bornova Municipality moderated the panel under the title “From Plans to the Field: Making Local Climate Action Bankable,” addressing how local environmental projects can access sustainable funding sources and move from planning to implementation.

Prof. Dr. Yiğit Kazançoğlu, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation at Yaşar University, delivered a presentation on “Waste and the Circular Economy,” explaining the role of resource efficiency and waste management strategies in urban transformation.

Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Coşkun Hepcan, a faculty member in the Department of Landscape Architecture at Ege University’s Faculty of Agriculture, focused on “Climate-Resilient Cities.” She shared landscape and infrastructure solutions that could be implemented across Bornova and İzmir to address the impacts of global warming.

Dr. Hakan Çakıcı, a faculty member in the Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition at Ege University’s Faculty of Agriculture and Chair of the İzmir Branch of the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers (TMMOB), addressed “Water, Food and Agriculture,” examining the effects of the climate crisis on agricultural production, the protection of water resources, and food security.

From Theory to Practice: Visit to Doğanlar Community Garden

The academic and local climate solutions discussed during the panel were explored firsthand in the second part of the program. Participants visited Doğanlar Community Garden, one of the most tangible examples of Bornova Municipality’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and urban resilience. As a local implementation of the circular economy model and an initiative to reduce the carbon footprint, the garden project received high praise from the participating experts and young climate activists.

Mayor Eşki: “We Will Make İzmir’s Voice Heard in Global Climate Policy”

Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki, who serves on the Board of Directors of Energy Cities, the European network of local authorities in energy transition, highlighted the municipality’s strategic role in the COP31 process. Emphasizing the critical importance of local governments in combating the climate crisis, Mayor Eşki said:

“Although we will not be part of the official national delegation at COP31, we will take our place in the Green Zone through the international networks we belong to and the projects we have developed. The valuable panel at Yaşar University and our subsequent visit to the Community Garden demonstrate our determination to bring our local action plans up to international standards. As Bornova, we will continue working through collective decision-making to build a sustainable future and represent İzmir’s strong climate vision at the major summit in Antalya.”

Bornova to Represent Türkiye in the Green Zone

Actively involved in the event’s stakeholder engagement processes, Bornova Municipality will showcase its projects carried out in partnership with the Social Climate Association to an international audience during the Green Zone events at the summit in Antalya. The Green Zone will host civil society organizations, academia, and technology initiatives.