İzmir Metropolitan Municipality has launched Türkiye’s first-ever İzmir Citizens Assembly for Climate, a landmark initiative that brings residents directly into climate policy-making and sets a local precedent for participatory democracy. First session of the Assembly was conducted on 7th of September in İzmir.
From 50,000 residents invited by SMS, 442 expressed interest in participating. Fifty citizens were randomly selected using a method that ensures demographic representation — reflecting the city’s diversity in terms of age, gender, district, education, occupation, and level of concern about climate change. Together, they will explore the question: “How can we survive in a warming İzmir?”
Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay opened the first session by encouraging participants to take an active and courageous role:
“Be courageous, comfortable, and free. The success of this Assembly will inspire the creation of new assemblies across Türkiye.”
Over five sessions (7 & 21 September, 5 & 19 October, 2 November 2025), participants will deliberate on key climate challenges and produce 30 tangible, solution-oriented recommendations. These will be integrated into İzmir’s Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) and its strategic planning to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
The Assembly is implemented by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, YUVA Association, and HUDOTO Foundation, funded by the European Union and supported by UNDP under the Civil Society Participation Grant Scheme.
Significantly, the Council of Europe is contributing to the monitoring and evaluation of the process through an independent expert, ensuring that international standards of inclusiveness, transparency, and deliberative quality are upheld.
This 15-month project not only strengthens İzmir’s ambition to become a low-carbon, climate-resilient city, but also marks a milestone for democratic innovation in Türkiye.
Local News Links (in Turkish only)
https://www.izmir.bel.tr/tr/Haberler/iklim-politikalarinda-izmirliler-de-soz-sahibi-olacak/56865/156
https://www.ereglionder.com.tr/iklim-politikalarinda-izmirliler-de-soz-sahibi-olacak
https://www.karadenizdesonnokta.com.tr/iklim-politikalarinda-izmirliler-de-soz-sahibi-olacak
