Before the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), which Turkey will host in Antalya from November 9–20, 2026, the importance of climate-resilient cities has once again come to the fore.
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller, Head of the Environmental Health Program at Üsküdar University, in his assessment on the occasion of November 8 World Urbanism Day, addressed how climate change necessitates fundamental changes in many areas, from urban planning to transportation, energy use, and water management.
“Cities have become implementation centers for climate goals”
Stating that COP31 is an important opportunity for Turkey to transform climate goals into concrete actions, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller highlighted that the role of cities in the climate struggle has changed.
Adiller said, “In recent years, the role of cities in the global climate struggle has increased; they are no longer seen merely as institutions providing services, but as implementation units that ensure the achievement of climate goals through decisions on transportation, urbanization, energy, and water management. The inclusion of resilient cities, sustainable buildings, and climate solutions in the COP31 program also supports this approach.”
Emphasizing that cities in Turkey must first identify their greenhouse gas emissions and the climate risks they face, Adiller stated, “This data should be transformed into applications according to each city's risk status. To reduce emissions, accessible public transport, safe pedestrian and bicycle connections, insulation in buildings, efficient heating-cooling systems, and the widespread use of renewable energy sources are prominent. For adaptation to climate change, steps such as protecting floodplains, reducing water losses, and implementing artificial or natural shading applications in areas with high temperature risks are necessary. These applications will significantly reduce both the city’s emissions and the damages citizens will be exposed to in their daily lives due to the effects of climate change.”
“A green city is not just a city with more trees”
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller, stating that the concept of a green city cannot be limited to merely increasing parks and trees, said, “A green city is not just one with more trees; it is a city that consumes fewer natural resources, produces less waste, and offers a healthier, safer, and most importantly, more sustainable life. Parks are an important part of this structure; however, a city dependent on car transport, filled with energy-inefficient buildings, and polluting its water resources, air, and soil, cannot be sustainable simply by increasing the number of parks.”
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller, pointing to the importance of people being able to meet their daily needs in sustainable cities without traveling long distances, continued:
“In transportation, there must be a system where people can reach their daily needs without traveling long distances, and public transport is reliable and accessible. In energy, the priority is to reduce consumption needs, then meet the remaining demand from low-emission sources. In waste management, it is essential to prevent waste generation, extend product lifespans, promote reuse, and implement a widespread recycling system by separate collection at the source. Organic waste should be processed using appropriate methods so that it contributes to improving nature, rather than polluting it.”
Adiller stated that reducing network losses, protecting water basins, and re-evaluating treated water for appropriate use are important in water management, adding, “In urbanization, riverbeds and natural areas must be protected; while distances between residences, workplaces, and services are shortened, the need for ventilation, shade, and open spaces should be considered.”
“The same city must prepare for both drought and floods”
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller, stating that excessive rainfall, floods, heatwaves, and droughts reveal deficiencies in the current urban planning approach, said, “These events demonstrate how striking the consequences of assuming that past climatic conditions will remain the same in the future when planning our cities. The increasing risk of heat and drought in the Mediterranean region amplifies cities' need for water and cooling. On the other hand, drought does not mean that heavy rainfall will not occur in a short period. Therefore, the same city needs to prepare for both water scarcity and floods. Construction in riverbeds, covering soil with impermeable surfaces like concrete and asphalt, and not renewing infrastructure according to changing conditions, increase the damage caused by extreme weather events. Unfortunately, we cannot control the intensity of rainfall; however, we can plan where the water will flow, where it will be retained, and how the risks to structures can be reduced.”
“Hospitals and essential infrastructure must be able to operate during disasters”
Emphasizing that climate-resilient cities are not only those that recover quickly after a disaster, Adiller stated, “By using future climate scenarios in zoning and infrastructure decisions and evaluating risks at the neighborhood level, hospitals, transport links, electricity, and water systems can be made operable even during excessive rainfall. During heatwaves, early warning systems, accessible cool public spaces, and support systems that particularly look after the elderly, children, outdoor workers, and low-income households should be planned. Resilient cities are not only those that recover quickly after the danger has passed but also those that can maintain their essential services without disruption during the danger.”
“Urbanization prevents cities from cooling down even at night”
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller, stating that urbanization and the loss of green spaces increase temperatures in cities, continued:
“Surfaces like concrete and asphalt store the energy they receive from the sun and later release it back into the environment. With the decrease in trees and green areas, the cooling effect provided by shade and plant transpiration is also lost. As a result, cities can be warmer than their surrounding rural areas; especially at night, they may not cool down sufficiently. This situation is called the ‘Urban heat island’ effect. During rainfall, these surfaces, due to their impermeable nature, prevent water from infiltrating the soil. More water is directed to streets and infrastructure systems in a shorter time. Green areas, due to their water-permeable structures, reduce this load by retaining some of the water or slowing its flow. However, as their capacity can be exceeded during very heavy rainfall, nature-based solutions alone may not be sufficient and should be designed in conjunction with engineering infrastructure.”
Climate-resilient cities can be designed
Explaining that creating new and large parks directly in metropolises with high population density in Turkey would be quite difficult, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller stated that increasing green areas in schoolyards, parking lots, sidewalks, and public buildings could be a correct starting strategy. He continued, “In long-term projects, the planning and establishment of green areas extending over wider spaces can be ensured during urban transformation processes. Furthermore, green roof applications can retain some of the rainfall and prevent excessive heating of the roof surface. Climate-resilient cities can be designed by selecting plants suitable for local climate conditions that require little water, protecting existing mature trees, pre-determining maintenance budgets, and implementing permeable surfaces according to soil characteristics, and green roofs by evaluating the building’s load-bearing capacity and waterproofing features.”
“Urban transformation is not just about building earthquake-resistant buildings”
Adiller stated that urban transformation should be evaluated not only in terms of earthquake safety but also climate change and environmental sustainability, adding that the city's future energy, water, and disaster burden should be reduced during the renovation of structures.
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller said, “Earthquake safety is a fundamental condition. In addition, the planning of the transformation area should be done by evaluating flood risk, transportation connections, infrastructure capacity, and the need for open spaces together.”
Adiller stated that consumption can be reduced in new buildings with good insulation, proper orientation, external shading, and energy-efficient systems, and added that renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, and treated greywater systems should also be considered during the design phase in appropriate structures.
“Green cities should not be limited to a few exemplary projects”
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Adiller emphasized that Turkey should extend the green city approach to all urban investments after COP31, stating, “Turkey’s most important goal should be to move the green city approach beyond a few exemplary projects and make it a common principle for all urban investments. Every new investment should make people safer against heat, floods, and water scarcity while reducing the city’s emissions. For this, local climate plans should be linked to municipal budgets and zoning decisions; progress should be regularly shared with the public. Success should not be evaluated solely by the number of trees planted or parks built; but by reduced greenhouse gas emissions, decreased building energy consumption, prevented water loss, access to public transport, and the number of people protected from climate risks.”
The sustainability success of cities is not solely based on the number of trees planted or parks built
What will be the lasting value of hosting COP31?
Adiller concluded by stating that the lasting value of hosting COP31 will emerge after the conference:
“Being able to create cities where people walk on cooler streets, breathe cleaner air, and spend less on energy and water after the conference could be the most valuable outcome. A green city is a city that combines environmental protection with the safety and quality of daily life.”
