Working Areas

Environmental Management and Climate Change

Environmental footprints are generated wherever human activity takes place, including urban life, industrial production, commercial operations and the provision of services. These footprints correspond to environmental pollution affecting air, water resources and soil, which are collectively referred to as receiving environment. Environmental management encompasses the full range of technical, economic and sustainable solutions aimed at preventing environmental pollution, reducing the extent of environmental degradation, remediating pollution and implementing environmental restoration activities. As in many part of the world, environmental management activities in Türkiye are carried out by local governments to a significant extent.

Marmara Municipalities Union (MMU) supports municipalities in their environmental management efforts trough training programmes, working groups and collaborative initiatives. Acting as a bridge between municipalities and ministries, as well as other institutions engaged in environmental management, MMU contributes to the development of local environmental policies and management strategies. MMU also conducts a variety of activities to raise awareness among local governments in the Marmara Region, ease the exchange of knowledge and experience, disseminate good practices and establish cooperation networks in the field of environmental management.

In relation to legislation that directly affects municipalities, MMU conducts evaluations in cooperation with member municipalities to ensure consistency and effectiveness in the implementation. MMU collects the views and recommendations of its members and communicates them to central government authorities, thereby contributing to legislative and regulatory processes. In addition, MMU monitors local, national, and global developments and supports the development of local policies that are aligned with national legislation and  relevant international legal framework.

In this context, the Marmara Municipalities Union Sustainability and Climate Change Center (SCC) adopts an integrated approach that addresses governance, finance and digitalization dimensions, with a focus on thematic areas such as urban mobility, energy and buildings, land use and biodiversity, water and wastewater, waste management, agriculture and food. The Center supports local governments in strengthening their climate change adaptation efforts, contributes to the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals, develops analyses and policy recommendations on climate impacts, promotes green and digital transformation, facilitates cooperation with national and international stakeholders, and implements activities aimed at enhancing urban resilience.

National Coordinating & Supporting Roles

Covenant of Mayors Supporter

Marmara Municipalities Union has been the only supporting organization of the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) in Türkiye since 2011. Launched by the European Commission in 2008, the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (CoM Europe) aims to involve and support mayors in achieving the European Union's climate and energy goals. It brings together thousands of cities and regions voluntarily committed to implementing climate and energy objectives. Based on the strength of a multi-stakeholder movement, signatory cities and regions contribute voluntarily to this initiative by achieving goals set at the regional or national level within the framework of sustainability, preparing sustainable energy action plans subject to monitoring. The signatories of the Covenant commit to adopting an integrated approach to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

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European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) National Coordinator

Marmara Municipalities Union has been the national coordinator of the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) in Türkiye since 2020. The EWWR is an initiative that aims to promote the implementation of awareness-raising actions on sustainable resource and waste management for a single week. The EWWR project has aimed to raise awareness about waste reduction, reuse of products, and recycling strategies since 2009. To achieve this goal, the project highlights the activities of EWWR participants, encourages a focus on four main activity themes (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Clean up Europe), and strengthens stakeholder capacities through targeted communication tools.

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