The Climate Finance Meeting for Local Governments, organized under the project “Strengthening Climate Change Adaptation Action in Türkiye,” was jointly financed by the European Union and the Republic of Türkiye and implemented by UNDP Türkiye in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the Presidency of Climate Change.

The meeting, held in Istanbul, brought together representatives from international development and financial institutions, public authorities, the private sector, and local governments to discuss how climate change adaptation investments can be supported, with a particular focus on innovative financial instruments and local financing mechanisms.

Opening remarks were delivered by UNDP Türkiye Resident Representative Monica Merino, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye Maria Luisa Wyganowski, Head of Department at the Directorate General for EU and Foreign Relations of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mehmet Yunus İnan, and Deputy President of the Presidency of Climate Change Mehrali Ecer.
Key contributions were also made by World Bank Türkiye Country Director Humberto López and Lin O’Grady, Head of the Green Cities and Sustainable Infrastructure Group at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The event aimed to promote the exchange of international experience in urban climate finance, disseminate good practices for improving access to finance at the local level, and strengthen multi-stakeholder cooperation for climate change adaptation in Türkiye.

About the Project

The project “Strengthening Climate Change Adaptation Action in Türkiye” is jointly financed by the European Union and the Republic of Türkiye and implemented by UNDP Türkiye in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and the Presidency of Climate Change. Launched in 2019, the project aims to enhance climate change adaptation capacity, particularly at the sectoral and urban levels, strengthen societal resilience, and develop essential tools for decision-makers.

Within the scope of the project, national and urban adaptation plans are being prepared, capacity-building activities are carried out, and a grant program is implemented to support the participation of civil society organizations.