Study visits were completed in Denmark and Sweden between May 8-11, 2023. The project visited the Copenhagen and Stockholm municipalities, which are highly strong in combating climate change, and examined their local adaptation actions and policy processes. The Deputy Head of the Directorate of Climate Change, Dr. Tuğba Dinçbaş, the experts of the Department of Adaptation to Climate Change and Local Policies, and the representatives of our four pilot municipalities, Konya, Sakarya, Samsun, and Muğla Metropolitan Municipalities’ Environmental Protection and Control Department participated in the visit.
The first stop of the learning visits was the Copenhagen Municipality’s Environment and Technical Unit. The visit shared Copenhagen’s adaptation action plan and strategies, including good examples and lessons learned.
One of the stops of the visits was the European Environment Agency (EEA). The EEA shared ClimateADAPT, a portal for sharing information on adaptation to climate change and user experiences. The preparations for the Climate Portal, which will be Turkey’s first and only climate change information platform within the scope of the project’s third component, were also shared with the EEA.
On the second day of the visit, an innovative neighborhood with permeable surfaces, green roofs, and rainwater collection systems that offer solutions to resilient against flooding and extreme weather events was visited. The aim was to share experiences on climate change adaptation measures in the urban context, focusing on urban planning, rainwater management, and community participation. In addition, field visits were organized to Sankt Annea Square and CopenHill Energy Plant, accompanied by Dr. Doğan Dursun, one of the project’s key experts, and good examples were examined on-site.
Representatives of the four metropolitan municipalities of the project, Konya, Sakarya, Samsun, and Muğla, also participated in the learning visits and had the opportunity to listen to the problems and good examples encountered in their adaptation planning. The process of preparing the Local Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plans of the pilot cities has been completed within the scope of the project’s second component.
On the third day of the visit, the Royal Seaport, which focuses on sustainable urban development, energy efficiency, green areas, and waste management, was examined on-site, and information about the development process was shared. In addition, Stockholm’s Slaughterhouse District, one of the sustainable industrial development examples that prioritize waste management and reducing environmental impacts, was visited during the day.
On the last day of the study visit, information was obtained about Hammarby Sjöstad, an example of environmentally friendly building design, renewable energy use, and sustainability issues. In Hagastaden, sustainable development was focused on healthcare services, research, and housing areas.
