Sustainability and Well-being
The Sustainability and Wellbeing cluster extends from IPC’s Urbanization and Local Governance program, broadening IPC’s focus on urban transformation to include the environmental, social, cultural, and economic aspects of sustainable development.
Based on nearly a decade of research on Turkey’s urban dynamics, local governance, migration, socioeconomic inequality, and the effects of globalization, IPC’s research now takes a wider, future-focused approach to the challenges and opportunities of sustainable living in an age marked by rapid urbanization and planetary pressures.
Within this cluster, IPC explores the changing relationship between people, cities, and the environment, with a special focus on climate resilience, sustainable food systems, cultural heritage, urban governance, demographic shifts, and social inclusion. It examines how local and regional contexts—particularly in Anatolian cities—are influenced by global trends, and how these contexts, in turn, shape policy decisions, community experiences, and quality of life.
Through public programs like Minerva Talks, Reading Istanbul in Literature, and From Farm to Table: Food, Culture and Politics, along with collaborative events such as The Urban Future of Humanity, IPC views sustainability not just as a technical or policy issue but as a cultural, social, and ecological experience. These activities showcase the connection between urban history, current urban life, food and agriculture, migration, cultural production, and environmental change.
Additionally, IPC contributes to the public discourse in this area through publications such as Zappa Zamanlar: IPC Special Series, published monthly in Aposto and on our website, which links sustainability themes with broader political, economic, and global developments. By combining research, public engagement, and interdisciplinary dialogue, IPC’s work on Sustainability aims to provide actionable insights for policymakers, local governments, civil society, and communities, helping create a more livable, resilient, and just future.
#Sustainability | #SustainableDevelopment | #Well-being | #SocialPolicies | #JustTransition
Istanbul Perspectives 15 - Istanbul: Inside and Outside
The 15th meeting in the Istanbul Perspectives Talks series took place with the participation of Artist Gülsün Karamustafa. Karamustafa’s talk on “Istanbul: Inside and Outside (İstanbul: İçeriden ve Dışarıdan)” was moderated by Asuman Suner on February 24, 2022.
Pandemic and Society - “NATO and the Ukraine Crisis”
IPC organized the “Pandemic and Society” webinar series on February 8, 2022, Tuesday at 15:00, under the title “NATO and the Ukraine Crisis,” with the participation of Fuat Keyman, Fatih Ceylan, and Tacan İldem.
"Pandemic and Society - “The New Government in Germany, Turkey and the EU”"
IPC organized the “Pandemic and Society” webinar series on January 25, 2022, Tuesday at 15:00, under the title “The New Government in Germany, Turkey, and the EU,” with the participation of Senem Aydın-Düzgit, Nilgün Arısan-Eralp, Atila Eralp, Çiğdem Nas, and Güven Sak.
Pandemic and Society - “UkraineRussia Crisis and Turkish Foreign Policy”
IPC organized the “Pandemic and Society” webinar series—launched to collaboratively address challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, analyze possible common grounds, and foster exchange of ideas supported by academic research—on January 11, 2022, Tuesday at 15:00, under the title “Ukraine-Russia Crisis and Turkish Foreign Policy,” with the participation of Senem Aydın-Düzgit, Evren Balta, Galip Dalay, and Fuat Keyman.
ISTANBUL PERSPECTIVES 14: “ENTERTAINMENT LIFE TRANSFORMED BY THE PANDEMIC”
The second meeting of this period took place on December 30, 2021, at Sabancı University Altunizade Digital Campus, with the participation of journalist- writer Erdir Zat.