Taskforce Workshop of UCLG-MEWA Committee on Environment
Taskforce Workshop of UCLG-MEWA Committee on Environment took place in Seferihisar, Izmir on 20 May 2017, under the auspices of Seferihisar Municipality, the Co-President of UCLG-MEWA Committee on Environment.
Organized for evaluating the implementation and monitoring of the UCLG-MEWA Istanbul Declaration of Malatya Agreement, which refers to different thematic areas such as Fighting and Adapting to Climate Change, Urban Agriculture, Biodiversity Conservation, Waste Management and Pollution, Energy, Transportation and Green Areas; the Workshop was held with the participation of member municipalities taking interest on the issue. The opening session started with the speeches by Mehmet Duman, UCLG-MEWA Secretary General; Tunç Soyer, Mayor of Seferihisar and Co-President of UCLG-MEWA Committee on Environment and Nihat Macit, Deputy Secretary General of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
The 3rd Meeting of UCLG-MEWA Committee on Environment to Take Place in Tabriz, Iran
Mohammed Sameer Namoura, Mayor of Dura, and Bagher Khoshnavaz, the Mayor of Region 10 municipality of Tabriz, also addressed the participants during the Workshop, which hosted many international members of the Committee. Mentioning the advantages of committee membership for local governments, Mr. Namoura highlighted the importance of the mission undertaken by the Committee for the recognition of good practices on environment around the world. Khoshnavaz Municipality expressed their will for hosting the 3rd Meeting of UCLG-MEWA Committee on Environmental, to be organized in 2018.
During the first session titled “Global Development Agenda on the Axis of Environment and Local Governments: Key References and Examples of Good Practice”, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Environmental Protection Directorate and Seferihisar Municipality Research and Project Directorate touched upon international agreements on environment, such as the Covenant of Mayors and the Compact of Mayors. Following the commitments within the framework of these agreements and the presentations on steps taken, UCLG-MEWA representatives evaluated the New Urban Agenda and 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda in terms of urban and climate resistance. Following this, eco-friendly practices passed by local governments were also presented.
The Taskforce Structure
During the second session titled “Malatya Consensus Istanbul Declaration: Implementation and Monitoring”, referring to purpose and scope of the Declaration, the participants mainly focused on the objectives and functions of the taskforces to be established. After drawing a general framework on the subject, the municipalities that are candidate for Taskforce Presidency made presentations. The session ended with the views and suggestions of the participants, after discussions on the structure and functions of the Scientific Council, to be constituted by the advisors of each taskforce.
With a presentation on “Green Municipality”; Aslı Pasinli, World Wildlife Fund Turkey (WWF-Turkey) Director General and Climate and Energy Advisor, provided information on the definition of the concept, and mentioned the possible partnerships at local level and the award program for climate-friendly cities.
The Taskforce Presidency Board determined after joint consultations during the workshop is listed as follows;
- President of the Taskforce on Waste Management and Pollution: Tabriz Municipality
- President of the Taskforce on Combating Climate Change: Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality
- President of the Taskforce on Green Areas: Maltepe Municipality
- President of the Taskforce on Urban Agriculture and Biodiversity: Karesi Municipality
- President of the Taskforce on Energy: Seferihisar Municipality
- President of the Taskforce on Environment-Friendly Transportation Systems: Rize Municipality
Local governments willing to become a taskforce member can make their applications by sending a cover letter to prj@uclg-mewa.org.