Mayor Eşki: “We will change the world step by step, like the starfish story”

Bornova Municipality organized a waste management training program for residential site residents to raise environmental awareness. During the event, Mayor Ömer Eşki stated that their goal is to expand Bornova’s green transformation initiatives to the entire world. The Director of Climate Change and Zero Waste, Fatma Mesutgil, emphasized the environmental and economic importance of waste management in combating the climate crisis.

Bornova Municipality continues its educational and awareness activities without interruption to strengthen environmental consciousness. In this context, residents of a housing complex received training on waste management and environmental awareness upon request. Mayor Eşki also attended the session, providing insights into the municipality’s sustainability efforts for a greener future.

“We are building a key pillar of the green transformation”

Mayor Ömer Eşki underlined that Bornova’s environmental projects are not merely local efforts but part of a global responsibility, saying:

“The work we are doing here forms a crucial pillar of our green transformation. At the same time, we are looking for answers to how urban infrastructure should function and how we can combat the climate crisis. We may not always publicize every initiative, but we are actively implementing impactful projects. This is an important step for us.”

Emphasizing that the initiatives in Bornova create not symbolic but effective models, Eşki continued:

“Bornova has an official population of 460,000. This may seem like a small area within that number, but we act with the starfish philosophy — like the person who throws a single starfish back into the ocean before sunset. Our intention is to expand these efforts step by step, reaching all of Bornova, İzmir, everyone who shares this mission, and eventually, the world. By doing so, we aim to leave a more livable planet for our children and sustain a healthy life for ourselves. To achieve this, we must defend this cause from a solid starting point.”

“We no longer talk about climate change, but about the climate crisis”

Bornova Municipality’s Director of Climate Change and Zero Waste, Fatma Mesutgil, highlighted that environmental awareness benefits both nature and the economy:

“Today, we no longer talk about climate change — we are facing a climate crisis. The Earth’s average temperature has already risen by one degree Celsius, directly leading to extreme heat. This means we have an important responsibility: waste management. Proper waste management not only benefits the environment but also provides economic advantages for residential communities. If we cannot directly handle production, we should at least ensure materials are included in recycling systems. Our goal is precisely this — to strengthen environmental awareness and conduct a model initiative that promotes both safety and social responsibility.”

Environmental awareness spreading from Bornova to the world

Through educational programs coordinated by the Bornova Municipality Climate Change and Zero Waste Department, the municipality aims to raise both individual and collective awareness. Expanding its environmental efforts from neighborhoods to residential sites, schools, and NGOs, Bornova Municipality will continue to promote eco-friendly practices — spreading a culture of environmental responsibility from Bornova to the entire world.