Climate resilience efforts carried out by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality under the EU-funded NBS4MED Project were reviewed on site with the participation of international partners. The planned green roof application at Mustafa Necati Cultural Center and the city’s nature-based solutions were assessed firsthand.
Activities implemented by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality within the scope of the European Union (EU)-funded
Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience in Mediterranean Cities (NBS4MED) Project were discussed during a Steering Committee meeting and field visits held in İzmir with the participation of international partners. During the visit, nature-based solutions implemented across the city were observed on site, while participants exchanged technical knowledge and experiences. Steps to strengthen cooperation among Mediterranean cities were also discussed.
İzmir’s Best Practices Presented on Site
As part of the programme, Yiğit Beydağ, Director of Climate Change and Clean Energy, and Prof. Dr. Koray Velibeyoğlu, President of İzmir Planning Agency, provided information about the municipality’s ongoing works. During the field visits, the delegation toured the Peynircioğlu Creek Ecological Corridor (Peynircioğlu Deresi Ekolojik Koridoru) and received detailed information about the project. On the second day of the programme, participants visited Bahçekapı Park in Buca and the water-retaining parks in Atatürk Mahallesi, where they examined rainwater harvesting systems, drainage infrastructure, and permeable surface applications.
What Does the Project Aim to Achieve?
The NBS4MED Project aims to strengthen climate change adaptation through nature-based solutions, reduce the urban heat island effect, lower disaster risks and enhance biodiversity. As part of the green roof project to be implemented in İzmir, the two terraces of Mustafa Necati Cultural Center will be redesigned in accordance with permaculture principles. The site will feature native plant species, as well as rainwater harvesting and composting systems. The rooftop area will also support food production through a community garden model.
Training and Activities to Support Wider Implementation
Following the completion of the project, the site will host sustainable living trainings, workshops, as well as art and sports activities. In this way, the project will go beyond physical transformation and become a hub that promotes community engagement and environmental awareness.
36-Month Project with EU Grant Support
The project, implemented by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, will run for 36 months and receive a grant of €347,692. The field activities carried out in İzmir mark an important step towards scaling up nature-based solutions at the city level and fostering climate-resilient cities across the Mediterranean region.
Representatives from Six Partner Countries Gathered in İzmir
Funded by the European Union, with the Directorate of EU Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Türkiye serving as the national authority, the project is being implemented by a consortium comprising public institutions, local authorities and academic organisations from seven partner countries: Türkiye, Greece, Spain, Italy, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan. All project partners participated in the field activities held in İzmir, led by the project coordinator, the Regional Fund for Development of the Region of Peloponnese (REGPEL).
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