UCLG-MEWA participated in the UITP Eurasia Conference on Clean Vehicles, which took place in Kayseri from September 18 to 20, 2024, and organized in collaboration with Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality and the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), with a focus on sustainable transportation and clean energy technologies.
Attended by numerous national and international experts, the conference concentrated on clean energy solutions for public transportation. The opening speeches were delivered by Memduh Büyükkılıç, Mayor of Kayseri; Mohamed Mezghani, UITP Secretary General; Dr. Feyzullah Gündoğdu, UITP Head of Eurasia; and Mehmet Canbulut, General Manager of Kayseri Public Transportation Inc. The speeches emphasized that clean energy vehicles are an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative for cities. It was particularly highlighted that the widespread use of low-emission public transportation vehicles, such as electric and hydrogen-fueled buses, plays a key role in reducing the carbon footprint of cities.
In the sessions held during the event, discussions were centered on how to make e-bus systems more economically efficient, the challenges cities face and also their successful implementations during the transition to these technologies. The importance of financing and procurement processes was stressed in the sessions, with a call for cities to conduct comprehensive feasibility studies to successfully integrate clean energy vehicles.
One of the most notable parts of the conference was the sharing of transition processes to clean energy vehicles by various cities. Experts from cities such as Lagos, Istanbul, and Kayseri conveyed their experiences during this transformation. Additionally, the panel facilitated knowledge and experience exchange among operators.
This event, aligned with UCLG-MEWA’s vision of promoting clean energy-based public transportation solutions in cities, marked a significant step for cities to develop sustainable transportation policies. The conference provided local governments with an inspiring platform on the path to achieving their transportation and climate goals and was considered an important phase towards building the cities of the future with smart city solutions.