The “EU–Türkiye Climate Change Grant Program” jointly financed by the Republic of Türkiye and the European Union, held a closing event titled “Grant Component Fair and Information Meeting” in Ankara.
25 September 2025
The “EU–Türkiye Climate Change Grant Program” jointly financed by the Republic of Türkiye and the European Union, held a closing event titled “Grant Component Fair and Information Meeting” in Ankara.
Under the “EU Partnership for Local Climate Action in Türkiye Project,” which is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and for which the Directorate of Climate Change serves as the final beneficiary, the “Grant Component Fair and Information Meeting” was held as the closing event of the “EU–Türkiye Climate Change Grant Program”.
Deputy Director of Climate Change Orhan Solak attended the event held under this project, which aims to support local governments, universities, and non-governmental organisations by strengthening their capacity to implement climate change mitigation and adaptation actions.
Delivering the opening remarks, Deputy Director Solak stressed that climate change is no longer a distant risk but a present-day reality and a global challenge that threatens our collective future. “We are living through a period in which climate-related records are being broken year after year,” he said.
“These records are no longer limited to rising temperatures; they extend across all climate parameters. Sea levels are rising, ocean temperatures are increasing, atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations continue to climb, and glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates. While 2024 became the hottest year on record, it was also the first year in which the 1.5 °C threshold was exceeded. Unfortunately, medium- and long-term projections indicate that these impacts and risks will continue to intensify.”
Recalling that Türkiye is located in the Mediterranean Basin, one of the regions most heavily affected by climate change, Solak made the following remarks:
“We are facing risks that far exceed the global average. In Türkiye, the risk of drought is two to three times higher than the global average, and temperature increases of up to 2 °C by 2040 and between 3°C and 5°C by 2100 are projected.”
Noting that cities are among the areas most severely affected by climate change, Solak said “Although climate action is often framed in terms of international negotiations and national policy development, its real impact is felt at the local level. This is why local engagement is critical. We view climate change not merely as an environmental issue, but as a development and security challenge that affects all countries, regions, sectors, and segments of society. In this respect, this grant program represents a strong example of how local capacity, collaborative ecosystems, and project implementation capabilities can be strengthened.”
The event was attended by Christian Ballaro, Acting Head of Green Development and Inclusive Growth and Attaché at the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye, and Associate Professor İsmail Raci Bayer, Head of Project Implementation Department of the Directorate General for European Union and Foreign Relations at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, as well as many invited guests