İmamoğlu at COP29: The Climate Crisis Hits the Poorest and Most Vulnerable Hardest
At the COP29 Summit in Baku, Ekrem İmamoğlu emphasized the climate crisis’s impact on vulnerable populations and shared Istanbul’s achievements in green finance, sustainability, and urban resilience. Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, spoke at COP29, addressing the climate crisis’s disproportionate effects on the poorest communities and highlighting Istanbul’s innovative actions toward carbon neutrality and sustainable development.
Editors 
İmamoğlu at COP29: "The Climate Crisis Hits the Poorest and Most Vulnerable Hardest"
MEDICENTERTV.COM / BAKU
Speaking at the COP29 Summit in Baku, Ekrem İmamoğlu highlighted the disproportionate impact of the climate crisis on the most vulnerable populations and shared Istanbul’s ambitious climate action initiatives.
Representing Turkey on the Global Stage
As the President of the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB) and Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu attended the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. During the panel titled “Urban Leadership”, moderated by ICLEI’s Yunus Arıkan, İmamoğlu joined notable leaders, including Niterói Mayor Axel Grael, Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koik, to discuss local government responses to the climate crisis.
"Global Turmoil Requires Global Action"
In his speech, İmamoğlu underscored the urgency of addressing interconnected crises such as wars, poverty, and climate-induced disasters:
"The wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Lebanon, along with climate-related disasters like floods in Spain and Brazil or deadly heatwaves in Tokyo, are warnings for all of us. Istanbul, one of Europe’s most climate-vulnerable coastal cities, faces both drought and floods. Tragically, slow progress on climate goals means that the poorest and most vulnerable bear the brunt of these challenges."
Istanbul’s Bold Climate Actions
İmamoğlu detailed Istanbul’s strides in combating climate change:
- Accelerating Carbon Neutrality: By joining the EU Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, Istanbul advanced its carbon neutrality goal from 2050 to 2030.
- Sustainable Transportation: The city has added 90 kilometers of new metro lines in the past five years, reducing emissions and enhancing efficiency.
- Expanding Green Spaces: Since 2019, 13 million square meters of green spaces have been created, significantly improving urban resilience.
These efforts have earned Istanbul an “A” rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project and the prestigious 2024 One Planet City Challenge award.
Green Finance and Social Justice
Highlighting the importance of innovative funding, İmamoğlu shared Istanbul’s success in issuing Turkey’s first Green Bond, raising $715 million for transformative projects. However, he stressed that cities need more direct access to resources:
"Achieving global climate goals requires $7 trillion in annual investments. While costly, the cost of inaction is far greater. Climate action without social justice is incomplete. Ecological justice must be intertwined with democratic governance and citizen participation."
A Day of Reflection and Engagement
After the panel, İmamoğlu visited the tomb of Azerbaijan’s late President Heydar Aliyev and the Baku Turkish Martyrs’ Memorial, paying his respects. He also engaged with Turkish and Azerbaijani media and visited the COP29 Turkey Pavilion, capturing moments with fellow participants.
