Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Serra Bucak attended the “Towards COP31: Local Climate Action Policy Dialogue: Local Leadership, Urban Resilience and Sustainable Transformation”, hosted by Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality.

Held at a hotel in Gaziantep, the programme was organised by the World Academy for Local Government and Democracy Foundation (WALD), the United Nations (UN) in Türkiye, the Zero Waste Foundation, the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion and the United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia Section (UCLG-MEWA).

Participants included mayors and municipal governing bodies, municipal technical and planning departments, public institutions, international financial institutions and development partners, banks and climate finance actors, universities and research institutions, private-sector representatives and technology providers, as well as civil society organisations and youth representatives.

Local Climate Action Addressed Across Six Themes

The programme aimed to strengthen local climate leadership and accelerate the translation of national and global climate commitments into resilient, inclusive and measurable local action. Discussions focused on six themes: local leadership and multilevel climate governance; urban resilience; local climate finance; a just and inclusive transition; water, food, nature and circularity; and innovation, technology and data.

Co-Mayor Bucak Speaks on Local Leadership and Climate Governance

Co-Mayor Serra Bucak spoke at the Mayors’ Session held under the theme “Local Leadership and Multilevel Climate Governance”.

The session addressed the role of municipalities and provincial-level institutions in implementing national climate commitments; coordination between national and local climate policies; local climate action plans and targets; alignment with spatial planning and urban development strategies; institutional mechanisms for multilevel climate governance; strengthening the voice of cities in national and global climate processes; and increasing inclusive participation and representation in local climate decision-making.

‘We Are Not Talking About the Future; We Are Talking About Today’

Stressing that they had gathered to discuss not only the future of cities but also ideas and shared solutions to the climate crisis on a global scale, Co-Mayor Bucak said:

“We know that the climate crisis and climate change are issues we are already discussing today. We are not talking about the future; we are talking about today, and we are facing universal challenges all over the world.”

Highlighting Climate-Induced Migration and Economic Losses

Drawing attention to the global impacts of the climate crisis through international data, Co-Mayor Bucak cited a 2021 World Bank report which estimated that, without adequate action, around 216 million people could be forced to migrate within their own countries by 2050 as a result of climate change. She also noted that drought and extreme heat in the United States in 2023 caused economic losses of $14.5 billion, with similar losses reported in Europe.

Emphasising that they live in a region that has experienced the severe consequences of migration at first hand, Co-Mayor Bucak said these examples demonstrated the seriousness of the situation.

‘The Costs of the Crisis Are Not Shared Equally’

Pointing out that the climate crisis must be considered alongside social inequalities, Co-Mayor Bucak said:

“The climate crisis is being felt everywhere in the world, and unfortunately, its costs are not shared equally between societies and countries. We must recognise that there is inequality here, too. Drought, extreme weather events and flooding also lead to declining agricultural productivity and threaten the livelihoods of people living in rural areas, causing them to lose their means of subsistence. This is why we must address climate-induced migration alongside the many issues it brings with it, including housing, employment, education, healthcare, social solidarity and resilience, as well as the deepening of inequalities. The same applies to our own cities. Every day, we are all experiencing this crisis together in different regions.”

Climate Threats Vary Across Türkiye’s Regions

Speaking about the climate threats facing different parts of Türkiye, Co-Mayor Bucak said:

“The G20 Climate Risk Atlas and scientific studies on climate change highlight different climate threats in different parts of Türkiye. Of course, our regions face different challenges. In Central Anatolia, drought and pressure on groundwater resources manifest themselves in the formation of sinkholes. In the Black Sea region, heavy rainfall, floods and inundation, as well as rising sea levels in coastal areas, are creating problems for local communities. And, of course, there are challenges specific to our own region: Southeastern Anatolia.”

Rising Temperatures, Drought and Pressure on Water Resources in Diyarbakır

Describing the climate challenges facing Diyarbakır, Co-Mayor Bucak continued:

“We can perhaps say the following about our city: rising temperatures and drought are undoubtedly among the most significant climate challenges we face. We already live in a dry, continental climate. Our water resources are also under pressure. As you know, Diyarbakır has extensive agricultural and production areas, as well as a large rural population. We are home to important ecological assets such as the River Tigris and the Hevsel Gardens. As a local authority, we also have a responsibility to preserve these valuable ecological assets. Climate change therefore means more to us than rising temperatures in the city centre; it also concerns the sustainability of agricultural production.”

The Rural–Urban Balance and Climate-Induced Migration

Noting that Diyarbakır faces risks that could intensify economic and social vulnerabilities in rural areas, Co-Mayor Bucak said:

“When we consider the balance between rural and urban areas, the climate crisis affecting rural populations increases migration to cities. This, in turn, creates further challenges for us in analysing and managing the problems that may arise in urban areas. Unfortunately, political and social developments have meant that some of our plans and climate initiatives have fallen behind. However, I believe we are in a position to address this delay constructively through civil society and the dynamism of our city.”

The Impact of Trustee Rule on Climate Planning

Referring to the damage caused by ten years of trustee rule, Co-Mayor Bucak said:

“There is the reality of trustee rule. Why do we bring this up at every meeting? Because, had there been no trustees, perhaps we could have implemented a Climate SECAP Plan in 2014, just like our neighbouring city of Gaziantep.”

Two New Parks Covering More Than 500,000 Square Metres

Stressing that strengthening green infrastructure was one of the municipality’s priorities, Co-Mayor Bucak continued:

“This is another reason why we consider strengthening green infrastructure a priority in Diyarbakır. Urban forests, parks, green corridors and ecological public spaces are all important. These are not merely places where residents can relax and socialise; through our infrastructure projects, we are also working to ensure that our initiatives support ecological and environmental balance. We are taking steps to mitigate the urban heat island effect. As part of these efforts, we are creating two new parks covering a combined area of more than 500,000 square metres.”

Protecting and Using Water Resources Efficiently

Co-Mayor Bucak identified the protection and efficient use of water resources as another priority, saying:

“Rainwater harvesting, nature-based solutions, water-sensitive urban design and sustainable production methods in rural areas are among our plans for the future.”

Rural Development, Cultural Heritage and Collective Memory

Highlighting the social and cultural value of rural areas, Bucak said:

“I would also like to emphasise rural development. We do not believe it is right to view rural areas solely as places where agriculture and production take place. They are also centres of cultural heritage, local knowledge, traditional knowledge and the transmission of collective memory. These are processes that must be sustained and kept alive.”

Emphasising Collaboration in Transport and Spatial Planning

Explaining the municipality’s approach to transport and spatial planning, Co-Mayor Bucak said:

“We take a similar approach to our transport and spatial planning processes. We want to strengthen public transport, develop more pedestrian-friendly transport, reduce dependence on private cars, and make public spaces more accessible and liveable. We want to work on this important issue, particularly public transport, through collective decision-making and joint discussions with all the stakeholders across our city, from our university and academic community to civil society organisations and professional chambers.”

‘Diyarbakır Is Ready for a Light Rail System’

Addressing the light rail project on the city’s agenda, Co-Mayor Bucak said:

“The light rail system has been a project for our city for at least 15 years — at least 15 years. Over the past two years, we have presented this important project to the Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, in particular, as well as to the Minister of Transport. I believe that, at this very moment, within the framework of the COP31 process and the goal of sustainable, resilient cities, all the grounds for our light rail project to move forward are now in place in Diyarbakır, one of the leading cities of Southeastern Anatolia. I want to emphasise that our city is ready, and our metropolitan municipality and its financial resources are ready for this project.”

Pedestrianising Suriçi to Protect the Historic Environment

Assessing the pedestrianisation project aimed at removing vehicles from Suriçi, the city’s historic walled district, Co-Mayor Bucak continued:

“As you know, we have our historic Suriçi district, our ancient Suriçi. In this respect, the pedestrianisation project we are working on, which aims to remove vehicles entirely from Suriçi, is not simply a traffic management measure. We see it as an important step and opportunity to promote a sustainable environment, encourage people to walk and improve their access to a healthy lifestyle, while also protecting the historic environment and improving air quality. Our teams and colleagues are working towards this goal as an important contribution to tackling climate change.”