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The sustainable development of our cities takes vision. Turning that vision into a low-carbon reality however, demands a detailed, timed and costed plan. For the municipalities of Adana and Manisa in Türkiye, we have been creating Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) to deliver that detail and to open-up access to funding.
SECAPs are the first step in applying for funding from the World Bank and European Union’s Sustainable Cities Project which includes integrated high-budget projects that aim to provide support to municipalities in many areas – particularly in relation to planning tools, technical assistance, and investment. For municipalities, having these plans is a requirement to join the Covenant of Mayors (CoM).
In Türkiye, this project has been designed by ILBANK and the World Bank to create a support mechanism for metropolitan municipalities and to enable them to plan for a sustainable future via sustainable investments. We used our experience of Green City Action Plans and other environmental funding programmes to help Adana and Manisa target greener growth with clear-sighted, investable plans.
Project Summary
> 2.5m people in Adana
> 1.4mpeople in Manisa
up to 40% reduction in emissions by 2030
Taking a system-wide view
We capture the greatest value of sustainable development when all activities are considered together. Our SECAP work for Adana and Manisa takes a holistic view of the activities for which the municipalities have direct responsibility (such as solid waste, water and wastewater) or for which they grant licences (such as public transport). Taking that wider view demands a multidisciplinary approach. Alongside our experts in advisory and environmental services, water engineering and transport planning, we collaborate with academics from Türkiye’s leading universities on issues from urban planning to climate change and risk analysis.
Building consensus
To help cities to articulate a shared vision and plan, as well as delivering on that plan, our advice is to reshape their organisational structure. Each department now includes at least one individual focused on the sustainable development agenda. As an interdepartmental working group, they can now build the cohesive funding applications that banks favour. Our stakeholder engagement programme is also building stronger relationships between the municipalities and providers such as energy companies whose data is essential to SECAPs.
Identifying projects
Adana has signed up to a 40% reduction in carbon by 2030, with Manisa to soon follow. Our baseline inventory of current emissions, as well as a gap analysis of the shortfall between this and the cities' carbon ambitions, provided information for both municipalities' roadmaps.
The SECAP plans combine science with creativity. The evidence we gathered inspired the decarbonising initiatives we proposed. We analysed the cost, feasibility and impact of a longlist of potential projects. The municipalities themselves will make the final decision, guided by our advice, on which projects are most likely to receive funding.
Adana: reclaiming a city’s standing
Adana’s key challenge is economic. At 20%, the unemployment rate is well above the 14% national average. Agriculture is a significant local industry in the city. Our recommended actions focused on increasing the mobility of its workforce and making better use of assets and resources.
Agricultural irrigation, for example, is currently localised and inefficient. Our proposals include a system-wide view of the industry’s water needs to reduce consumption. Similarly, heat energy from local industry could be captured to provide low-carbon heating for Adana’s homes. To give the local workforce access to affordable public transport, our sustainable mobility masterplan sets out a change of modes, from carbon-costly private vehicles to a new metro and a network of electric buses.
Manisa: targeting efficiency
Manisa has a strong local economy with low unemployment. It is a major hub for the manufacturing of televisions and computers and its proximity to Izmir – Türkiye’s third largest city – is both a benefit and, environmentally, a hindrance. Many of the workers in Manisa’s industrial zones live in Izmir, requiring daily commutes to their jobs. To serve them, multiple competing bus services duplicate routes and timetables and through its licensing powers, the municipality has the opportunity to maximise the efficiency of bus services, as well as to promote electric bus services and to introduce a rail link between the two cities.
“We are proud to have been able to support ILBANK and the World bank in the creation of the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans that have the potential to help shape the sustainable future of Adana and Manisa and improve the lives of millions of people. Using our experience in Green City Action Plans, climate action and sustainable urban mobility, we were able to explore and identify bespoke initiatives to suit each city and respond to their unique challenges. ”
Emine Kazanç Associate
Like Adana, agricultural irrigation in Manisa is fragmented and inefficient. By mapping where water is lost, we have proposed new infrastructure and sustainable drip irrigation. In Manisa’s climate, renewable energy could also provide a valuable alternative source of energy and lessen the city’s reliance on its coal-powered plant. While the municipality is not responsible for energy, it is able to make active use of its zoning and planning remit to encourage the switch to more sustainable sources.
A legacy of self-resilience
Sustainability places a focus on efficiency and self-reliance. We are helping both municipalities build that self-reliance as they plan for a more sustainable future.
ILBANK and The World Bank are reviewing the SECAP submissions of both municipalities in June 2022. SECAPs, however, require annual resubmission and we are building the capacity of Adana and Manisa to deliver future submissions themselves.
Our web-based emissions tool gives them the ability to calculate their own emissions from their inventory. We have trained over 100 staff in each city in skills from climate policies, laws and renewable energy to urban planning and transportation, helping them take the future of their cities into their own hands.
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