Fifty Years Together: Centered Around Marmara Sea
The program opened with a video presentation highlighting the history of MMU, which was founded in 1975 by 45 municipalities located along the coasts of Marmara Sea and the Straits. The video emphasized MMU’s mission to address not only regional challenges but also global issues through collective action and cooperation among local governments.
The first session of MMU Assembly Meeting focused on Marmara Sea as the driving force behind Union’s establishment, underlining a strong commitment to protecting its ecosystem and ensuring its long-term sustainability. Overall, the program served as a strong call for local governments to take greater environmental responsibility and to develop joint strategies in collaboration with central authorities, academia, and civil society.
Mayor Bozbey Delivers Strong Messages for the Future
The event, which began with an opening speech by Mustafa Bozbey, President of MMU and Mayor of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, highlighted both the legacy of the past and the responsibility for the future.In his opening speech, Mustafa Bozbey, President of MMU and Mayor of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, emphasized both institutional legacy and future responsibility. He underlined that Marmara Sea is no longer only a local concern but part of the global environmental agenda, and reaffirmed the commitment of local governments to continue their environmental efforts in cooperation with the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.
President Bozbey highlighted the mucilage issue in Marmara Sea as a clear sign that the sea’s carrying capacity has been exceeded. He stressed the importance of strengthening the technical and administrative capacities of local governments to ensure the effectiveness of Marmara Sea Action Plan. “We are committed to doing everything we can for Marmara Sea. Protecting it means safeguarding not just the present, but also our future, the right to life of our children, and the resilience of our cities.”
In-Depth Assessments from Experts
During the academic session, leading experts presented analyses of Marmara Sea’s environmental condition and shared strategic recommendations for the future. Notable speakers included Prof. Cem Gazioğlu, Prof. Nuray Çağlar, Prof. Saadet Karakulak, and Prof. İzzet Öztürk, who addressed issues such as pollution, ecosystem changes, fisheries challenges, and wastewater management.
A Shared Commitment for Marmara Sea
The program brought together a diverse group of participants such as mayors, council members, technical staff, academics, civil society representatives, and environmental activists, who agreed on the urgent need for stronger cross-sector collaboration to protect Marmara Sea.
