Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay clearly stated at the Izmir Economic Development Coordination Board (İEKKK) meeting that urban transformation efforts are of vital importance for Izmir and that they prioritize this issue. Mayor Tugay announced that ongoing urban transformation projects will be completed in a short time and stated that they are working intensively for new projects. He also invited the central government and all relevant institutions to cooperate for the transformation of risky structures in the city.
Izmir's Economic Agenda and Climate Goals Were Discussed at İEKKK
The 135th meeting of İEKKK was held at the Historical Gas Factory, hosted by President Dr. Cemil Tugay and chaired by Alp Avni Yelkenbiçer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Aegean Young Businessmen Associations (EGİFED). Important developments regarding the economic agenda of İzmir and Türkiye were evaluated at the meeting. İzmir, which has become one of the leading cities in Europe thanks to its successful work in the fields of climate change and energy and has been included in the European Union (EU) Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, was one of the important agenda items of the meeting. The outputs of the İEKKK Working Group Mission Camp, which was established to determine the common steps to be taken towards İzmir's Mission City target, were also shared with the board members.
Chairman Tugay: “We Can Be Carbon Neutral in 5 Years”
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay emphasized that he attaches great importance to the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission City studies and stated that the coordination task undertaken by İEKKK on this issue is critical. Mayor Tugay said, “I think we can be carbon neutral within the next 5 years. We should all work together on this issue. I congratulate the İEKKK working group. They made a harmonious and determined effort. We really made the right move. This needs to continue. We should discuss this issue and decide which target actions we will prioritize. If we proceed in this way, we will address the problems one by one. We can progress on the path of developing an understanding and awareness in the city regarding each problem we address.” Tugay also stated that industrialists, farmers and producers have important duties on the path to becoming carbon neutral and said, “There are things that each of our citizens can change with awareness as individuals. These should be addressed as a whole.”
Countdown to Cleanup in the Gulf: Phase 4 Opens
President Tugay also touched upon the work they have been carrying out towards the goal of a clean Gulf, reminding that the opening of the 4th phase, which will increase the capacity of the Çiğli Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant, which meets a large portion of the city's treatment load, will be held on April 28. Tugay said, “We are opening the 4th phase. From now on, no one should think that the treatment plant will discharge at any time, including rainy weather. It will not,” and emphasized that this important development is a major step taken for the cleaning of the Gulf.
Decisive Steps in Urban Transformation: “I Will Not Step Back”
One of the most important agenda items of President Dr. Cemil Tugay was urban transformation works. Tugay, who stated that they have put into action the determined steps that have not been taken before, said, “The unfinished projects will be finished. We will complete the construction of all urban transformation projects within one or one and a half years. We will give the apartments to the rightful owners and those who are involved in this work as cooperative partners. We are carrying out new urban transformation projects. There are many regions that have not been touched until now. We are working separately on all the areas that need transformation.” Bayraklı and completed the building inventory studies in Bornova and KarşıyakaTugay, who announced that similar work will be initiated inBayraklı and we sent a letter to the district municipalities for the transformation of buildings deemed risky in Bornova. They wrote to the building owners. Performance measurements were started to register that they are risky buildings. We will impose sanctions on those who do not do this. I am determined on this issue. I will not step back. We will not allow people to live in any building knowing that it is risky,” he said. Emphasizing that this problem is not an issue that the municipality can solve alone, Tugay said, “I invite the Ministry, TOKİ and all relevant institutions to cooperate. I will also meet with the Minister. We will work for a solution. If an earthquake occurs in Izmir one day and buildings collapse and people are trapped under it, who will be guilty here? I do not want to be guilty. Therefore, I will do my part. But others should not be guilty either. We will solve this issue in Izmir. In addition, our neighborhoods, streets, “We will take many steps to improve our living spaces,” he said.
Izmir 2030 City Commitment Presented to Board Members
İzmir Planning Agency (İZPA) President Prof. Dr. Koray Velibeyoğlu informed the board members about the outcomes of the İEKKK Working Group Mission Camp, which was established for joint steps to be taken towards İzmir’s Mission City target by 2030. The studies carried out with 2030 participants and 76 work tables within the scope of the 10 Mission City Camp aimed to define mission-oriented governance policies for the future of the city and to create a city commitment for İzmir. Velibeyoğlu stated that these studies were carried out within the scope of the Mission City Action Laboratory to be established under the coordination of İZPA in line with İzmir’s Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission by 2030. He underlined that the camp also aims to align with European Union Missions, encourage multi-stakeholder cooperation, and develop innovative and inclusive solutions for the city’s social, economic, and environmental challenges. Prof. Dr. Velibeyoğlu also presented the preliminary study of the İzmir 2030 City Commitment to the board members.
