The launch of the Wide Expansion of Türkiye Multi-Level Governance Platform for Climate Actions (MLGP4Climate) on April 30, 2024, at the Crowne Plaza Ankara Hotel, saw a robust turnout of representatives from various sectors, underscoring the collective commitment to address climate challenges in Türkiye.
The event, organized by the EU4ETTR Project, funded jointly by the European Union, supports Türkiye’s transition to clean energy. Implemented by the Lithuanian Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) in Türkiye and GIZ in Western Balkan countries, the project empowers local governments to implement Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAP), and foster climate dialogue and collaboration among central and local authorities.
While expending MLGP’s horizons to broader regions in collaboration with the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, brought together representatives from municipalities, municipality companies, ministries including foreign affairs, transportation, climate change, energy, and more, alongside members of the private sector and association representatives. Among the notable attendees were delegates from municipalities across Türkiye, demonstrating the grassroots support for climate action at the local level. Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Transportation and Infrastructure; Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change; Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, EU Delegation in Türkiye were well-represented, highlighting the government’s commitment to fostering multi-level governance for climate actions.
During the high-level session, Mr. Kayhan Özüm, Deputy Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, underscored the pivotal role of local governments in driving climate action initiatives. Ms. Virve Vimpari, Counsellor and Head of Section for Green Development and Inclusive Growth at the European Union Delegation, emphasized the importance of international collaboration in achieving sustainable development goals. Ms. Jūratė Lepardinienė, Deputy Director of the Central Project Management Agency, highlighted the significance of multi-level governance in fostering climate resilience, revisited the MLGP4Climate IT Portal for 2024, highlighting its features and functionalities for enhancing collaboration and data management.
Ms. Beyza Turan, Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Programming Department, elaborated on the IPA III Programming Framework and its synergies with MLGP4Climate in advancing climate objectives.
Ms. Helena Monteiro, the City Climate Finance Gap Fund, shared insights into accessing financing opportunities for climate projects through MLGP4Climate, whereas Ms. Daiva Matonienė, EU4ETTR Project Team Leader, outlined a roadmap for the wide expansion of MLGP4Climate, emphasizing strategic planning and stakeholder engagement. Mr. Ertuğrul Şafak, Project and Finance Manager, Union of Municipalities of Türkiye, discussed the essential role of municipal unions in supporting the implementation of MLGP4Climate initiatives at the local level.
The Türkiye Multi-Level Governance Platform for Climate Actions (MLGP4Climate) Kick-off event signals a major stride in Türkiye’s path toward sustainability, showcasing the strong commitment of various stakeholders to fight climate change and protect the environment.
