A Look At The Cities’ Climate Change Adaptation Action Plans for Türkiye: Challenges and Opportunities

Authors : Ece Gizem Çakmak, Tuğba Doğan Güzel, Deniz Sari, Haldun Karan

Pages : 52-64

View : 75 | Download : 52

Publication Date : 2023-12-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :IPCC Sixth Assessment Report on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability provides an in-depth assessment of Mediterranean Region where annual mean warming is projected to vary between 0.9 to 5.6°C under different emission scenarios by the end of the century while precipitation will decrease by 4% to 22% in most areas. Cities are hotspots of vulnerability to climate change impacts such as floods, drought and heatwaves, and need to adapt their operations in view of expected climate change impacts. On the other hand, cities are providing a unique ability to address those challenges as near-term measures implemented in urban infrastructure will determine global capacity for emission reductions and adaptation to climate change impacts. Urbanization influences climate change substantially and rapid urbanization may offer a unique potential for the creation of sustainable cities if decision-makers choose the right pathways and measures. Therefore, it is very important to make cities an integral part of the solution while combating climate change. Cities have significant effects on climate change due to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions occurring within their boundaries and urban heat island effect on temperatures. Meanwhile, they contain sensitive structures against the impacts of expected climate change. For this reason, a city action plan for climate change should consider actions both to reduce GHG emissions within the city and to increase the adaptation capacity of the city to the consequences of climate change. This study discusses the general approach adapted by the local governments, and evaluates adaptation measures. The study addresses economical, political, and social obstacles and opportunities in developing adaptation strategies and implementing adaptation measures. Furthermore, this study discusses in detail the following steps in developing cities’ Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP): Determination of in-city GHG emission sources and emission factors, stakeholders’ inclusion, preparation of GHG inventories, assessment of GHG emission reduction scenarios, sectors’ vulnerability and risk assessments, identification of adaptation measures for the sectors, and finally preparation of the city’s climate change action plan.
Keywords : İklim değişikliği, Azaltım, Uyum, Risk, Kırılganlık