Overcoming Global Problems through Local Cooperation: The Case of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality - The Effects of Climate Change on Vulnerable Groups: The Case of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB)

Introduction

This report is the first report to emerge from the project “Overcoming Global Problems through Local Cooperation: The Case of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality,” a joint project of the Istanbul Policy Center (IPC), Economic Development Foundation (IKV), and the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV). This report is the first stage of a three-step project that involves an in-depth stocktaking of the existing policies and measures adopted by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi (IBB)) to adapt to climate change. It addresses governance-related challenges in implementing climate change policies and the protection of vulnerable groups in the city—namely, refugees, women, and those who live below the poverty line. In this framework, the research team focused on the effects of climate change on these vulnerable groups as outlined in Istanbul’s local climate action plans. A qualitative research model was adopted. The research team carried out an extensive literature review on international, national, and local research papers related to climate change and vulnerability. The research team also examined several news articles to follow the current developments in climate change, urbanization, and the clash of authority between the local and central governments. In terms of field research, in-depth interviews were made with several people representing the IBB and its stakeholders. The interviews mainly focused on the IBB’s current work in the fields of climate change and the protection of vulnerable groups (refugees, women, and the urban poor), and their opinions on the next steps to be taken to protect vulnerable groups against the effects of climate change. The assessment of the research team on this issue is elaborated below.

Conclusion

This report aimed to scrutinize the relationship between climate change and vulnerable groups in Istanbul. The report was prepared by a collaborative research team from IPC, TEPAV, and IKV. The research team carried out both a literature review and field research using in-depth interviews. While focusing on the relationship between climate change and vulnerable groups, this report also examined the legal and institutional procedures related to climate change in both Turkey and Istanbul. Special attention was paid to the clash of authorities in the local and central governments.