HOMEÇatalca's Climate Plan is Being Completed with Istanbul Energy
Istanbul Energy and the Çatalca Municipality took a significant step toward the district's sustainability vision with a workshop organized as part of the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP). The event, held at the Çatalca Atatürk Sports Complex, brought together local government representatives, technical experts, civil society organizations, and citizens.
The meeting was attended by Istanbul Energy General Manager Dr. Yüksel Yalçın; Çatalca Mayor Erhan Güzel represented by Deputy Mayors Ayhan Tutun, Burak Tan, Ayhan Ormanoğlu, and Atilla Şahin; municipal council members, neighborhood headmen (mukhtars), academics, and numerous other participants.
The event addressed greenhouse gas emissions reduction, climate change adaptation strategies, and district-specific applicable action plans. Following technical presentations, participants' opinions and suggestions were gathered in workshops, ensuring that the plan was shaped with a participatory approach tailored to local conditions.
Istanbul Energy General Manager Dr. Yüksel Yalçın stated the following in his speech at the workshop:
“We value working with local governments for a sustainable future. Contributing to Çatalca’s green transformation process is both a responsibility and a sense of partnership for us. Çatalca Mayor Erhan Güzel’s vision of a ‘clean environment and a Çatalca that produces its own energy’ guided this process. This vision was key in shaping our project. SECAP allows us to establish this shared goal on a systematic and sustainable basis.”
A Strong Local Contribution to the European Green Deal
The SECAP report, prepared as part of the European Union harmonization process, not only provides a strong foundation for the district’s fight against climate change but also provides the potential to benefit from EU support programs. The plan's goals include reducing carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
While there are 1,423 municipalities across Turkey, fewer than fifty have completed this process. Çatalca's inclusion among the top 100 is considered a significant achievement in terms of planning, collaboration, and vision.
Exemplary Practices Starting Locally
Sustainability projects implemented with numerous municipalities across Istanbul have become an exemplary implementation model across Turkey. This workshop held in Çatalca stands out as one of the most successful examples of this approach. The scientific and strategic contributions provided are considered part of a long-term vision to strengthen the climate action capacity of local governments.
The work undertaken focuses not only on environmental sustainability but also on social participation, institutional capacity, and local ownership. Thanks to the prepared action plans, districts are able to take more concrete and measurable steps in combating the climate crisis.
At the end of the workshop, it was emphasized that the collaboration between Istanbul Energy and Çatalca Municipality will continue to grow in the coming period.
