The Green City Action Plan (GCAP) for Izmir aims to identify, prioritize and address the priority environmental challenges, and establish a vision and projects to enable a green future for the City.
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality has joined as a Member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Situated on the western coast of Türkiye, İzmir serves as a prominent nexus in the Aegean region. Its historical roots, seen in sites like Ephesus and Pergamon, trace back to Greek and Roman times, adding a rich layer of antiquity to the city.
İzmir’s downtown area, characterized by Konak Square and the bustling Kemeraltı Market, offers a blend of old and new, reflecting the city’s evolution through the ages. The coastal town also boasts a notable seafront promenade, the Kordon, providing an expansive outlook onto the Aegean Sea.
Sustainability in İzmir
The City joined EBRD’s Green Cities Framework in early 2019. The Green City Action Plan (GCAP) for Izmir aims to identify, prioritize and address the priority environmental challenges, and establish a vision and projects to enable a green future for the City. With its proposal of 46 actions that include infrastructure investments, policy measures, capacity development and advocacy, the proposal is designed to help achieve its vision for a green İzmir.
In 2020, by joining the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) and preparing and implementing a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), İzmir Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), has voluntarily committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving climate resilience.
The CoM signatories’ objectives to be achieved by 2030 are to:
- Reduce CO2 emissions by at least 40% against the baseline year
- Increase climate resilience (i.e. develop a climate action plan)
- Provide secure access to sustainable and affordable energy in a manner that is integrated with the mitigation and adaptation plans İzmir’s SECAP has been aligned with the development of its Green City Action Plan (GCAP) which aims to identify, prioritize and address the most pressing environmental challenges, aligning with IBB Strategic Plan Vision, enabling a future for Izmir that is more compatible with nature.
Also, the Global Climate Community of İzmir was established last May, a collective focused on furthering İzmir’s mission of becoming a Climate Neutral and Smart City to combat the global climate crisis.
Tunç Soyer, Mayor of İzmir said: “With this membership, İzmir took its first important step in the field of sustainable tourism. Works in harmony with nature and the environment will be introduced to the world as tourism elements. The interest in sustainable tourism is increasing in the world and the principles of sustainability in tourism have an important role in the choice of destinations. We acted proactively to become a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.”
GSTC Welcomes İzmir
“We warmly welcome İzmir as a new member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. İzmir’s commitment to sustainability reflects its deep respect for its historical richness and symbolizes an approach towards its emerging sustainable future” says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.
GSTC encourages destinations pursuing sustainability practices in tourism development and management to join as GSTC members and apply the GSTC Destination Criteria, which eventually can help achieve certification by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
