UCLG-MEWA Committee on Environment Presidency & Committee Meeting was held on 27 March 2026, hosted by Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality with broad participation. Bringing together local government representatives from across the region and high-level officials from international organizations, the meeting was conducted in a hybrid format in two sessions.
The Meeting started with the opening session, where Ahmet Akın, Mayor of Balıkesir, President of the UCLG-MEWA Committee on Environment, UCLG-MEWA Ambassador for Climate, and UCLG-MEWA Co-President, stated that the environmental agenda is not only a technical issue but a field of responsibility directly linked to the continuity of life. Emphasizing that local governments, as the closest institutions to citizens’ daily lives, play a decisive role in ensuring service continuity, disaster preparedness, and access to basic resources, Akın highlighted the need for regional cooperation and joint capacity building.
During the opening session of the meeting, local government representatives from various cities took the floor to share their assessments of regional priorities. In this context, Mohammad Hmaidat, City Manager of Bani Naim, provided a framework on the current situation of local governments, while Mahmut Özçınar, Mayor of Güzelyurt and Co-President of the UCLG-MEWA Committee on Environment, underlined the importance of regional cooperation.
During the meeting, the Committee’s strategic priorities and roadmap for the new term were discussed, while environmental risks, disaster preparedness, and strengthening resilience at the local level were comprehensively addressed. Participants emphasized that the MEWA region faces multiple, layered challenges, including climate change, water stress, energy pressures, rapid urbanization, and food security, and highlighted the critical role of local governments in this process.
In this framework, Ahmet Pekyatırmacı, Mayor of Selçuklu and Co-President of the Committee, touched upon food and agriculture-oriented approaches, while Hamidreza Gholamzade, Deputy Mayor representing Alireza Zakani, Mayor of Tehran and Co-President of the Committee, shared experiences on environmental management at the metropolitan level and addressed the impacts of war and conflicts on ecological systems. Mohamad Saadie, UCLG-MEWA Ambassador for SDGs, emphasized the importance of alignment with the SDGs in his remarks.
During the same session, Emad Al-Azzam, Chair of the Municipal Committee of Irbid and Co-President of the UCLG-MEWA Committee on Environment, shared his evaluations on disaster risk reduction efforts, while Abdulkarim Zubaidi, Mayor of Salfeet, President of the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA), and UCLG-MEWA Co-President, drew attention to the role undertaken by local governments at the regional level.
Dr. Mehmet Duman, UCLG-MEWA Secretary General, stated that the meeting goes beyond being merely a committee gathering and represents a reaffirmation of a shared responsibility for the environmental future of the region. Emphasizing that local governments are the key implementers of global and national agendas on the ground, Duman noted that UCLG-MEWA will continue to serve as a platform that strengthens knowledge exchange among cities and accelerates the development of joint solutions.
During the session, Dr. Ali Murat Duman, UCLG-MEWA Deputy Secretary General, presented the framework for the Committee’s structure and priorities, while Dr. Reem Abusamra, UCLG-MEWA International Relations Coordinator, shared the Report of Activities for the 2022–2025 period. Junaid Rafiq, UCLG-MEWA Communications Coordinator, provided information on the planned activities and international engagements for the upcoming period.
Key priority areas highlighted during the meeting included strengthening local capacity in climate action and environmental governance, expanding disaster risk reduction and urban resilience efforts, accelerating sustainable energy transition, and reinforcing food systems. The importance of circular economy, waste management, knowledge sharing, and multi-stakeholder cooperation was also emphasized.
In the second session, discussions carried out under the Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (WGDRR): Advancing Disaster Preparedness for Local Governments highlighted expert contributions.
In this context, Fadia Ghanem presented a general framework on local disaster preparedness and urban resilience, while Emin Menteşe, DRR and Urban Resilience Expert, addressed the integration of preparedness into urban planning and service delivery.
Elaf Shoukr, Associate Programme Officer at UNDRR ROAS, participated online and discussed governance frameworks and financial tools, while Juan Carlos Uribe Vega, UCLG Learning Program Manager, shared his evaluation of the localization of the Sendai Framework.
Faisal Ababneh from Greater Irbid Municipality focused on risk identification and early warning systems, while Ahmad William Marayta, Director of Public Relations at Salfeet Municipality, addressed the role of local governments in combating environmental challenges and managing disasters.
In addition, Prof. Dr. Burhanettin Farizoğlu presented a technical project on environmental infrastructure solutions, while Deniz Tosun, Private Sector Representative, shared a private sector perspective on the global impacts of local initiatives.
The meeting concluded as an important gathering that strengthened solidarity among local governments, promoted the exchange of good practices, and advanced a more coordinated approach to environmental and climate governance at the regional level.
