Eskişehir’s 2030 climate roadmap has been finalized

9 June 2026

Beyza Eren

The “Strong Eskişehir Against Climate Change” project, carried out by the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality and the TEMA Foundation with funding from the European Union (EU), has been completed. As part of the project, which aims to strengthen civil society dialogue between Turkey and the EU, the climate risks the city will face by 2030 were documented using scientific data.

EU grant programs implemented to develop democratic local governance and strengthen civic participation in Turkey have materialized into a concrete climate roadmap in Eskişehir. The “Strong Eskişehir Against Climate Change” project has been recorded as one of the most comprehensive studies measuring the city’s climate resilience, carried out with financial support from the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Civil Participation Grant Program strengthens Eskişehir’s climate resilience with scientific data

The project was implemented under the Civil Participation Grant Program. Led by the Presidency of the European Union, the process included the Union of Turkish Municipalities (TBB) and the General Directorate of Relations with Civil Society under the Ministry of the Interior as the main beneficiaries. Completed with a budget of approximately $100,000, the study determined the city’s 2030 projections using analysis methods compliant with EU standards.

According to Project Specialist Dr. Vural Yıldırım, the project consisted of three main components: surveys measuring public awareness in Eskişehir, workshops conducted with neighborhood councils and civil society organizations, and scientific risk reports.

Eskişehir’s Climate Report has been prepared

The research report prepared as part of the project determined that the greatest threats Eskişehir will face in the near future are drought and wildfires. The key findings of the analyses, prepared in line with the EU’s Green Deal objectives, are as follows:

Fire Risk: Even if scenarios regarding air pollution and carbon emissions change, the fire risk for Eskişehir’s forests remains at a high level. In particular, the regions of Seyitgazi, Han, and Mihalıççık, where forest cover is dense, have been identified as the city’s most vulnerable and fragile points in terms of fire risk.

Drought and Heat: It is projected that the risk of agricultural drought will increase in the districts of İnönü and Seyitgazi by 2030, while the urban heat island effect in the city center is expected to place pressure on public health.

Flood Analysis: While flood risk across the city is currently at low levels, it is recommended that monitoring systems be established to address surface runoff caused by sudden summer downpours.

Eskişehir’s climate roadmap is taking shape at the new center

The Climate Action Center, one of the project’s concrete outcomes, has begun operations under the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality. Aiming to establish climate initiatives within an institutional and sustainable framework, the center is currently in the planning phase, as it is still in its early stages of establishment. For this reason, it is noted that the center is focusing on policy development efforts for the future rather than current field activities.

The following solution models, which are included in the Policy Recommendation Document published by the TEMA Foundation and have been successfully implemented in modern European cities, are expected to be incorporated into the center’s work program:

Ecosystem-Based Spatial Planning: Aims to enhance the city’s resilience against the climate crisis by protecting its natural assets.

GIS-Based Climate Risk Portal: It aims to accelerate local governments’ decision-making processes by collecting climate data on a digital platform.

Rain Gardens and Permeable Surfaces: It aims to reduce the pressure caused by sudden rainfall and the heat island effect by improving urban water management.

The fight against climate change is shaped by the power of civic engagement

In line with UNDP’s emphasis on democratic local governance, the views of civil society organizations and citizens were central to every stage of the project. Data collected through neighborhood meetings and surveys revealed that the city must prepare for the climate crisis not only technically but also socially.

This model implemented in Eskişehir serves as a successful example for other local governments in Turkey on how EU grant funds can be integrated into local climate policies.