Partnership aims to inspire and support Turkish cities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

Kocaeli, 9 February 2022 – Under an agreement signed today, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will partner with Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality in designing the content of this year’s Kartepe Summit, an annual international gathering held since 2017 that brings cities together to brainstorm solutions to the biggest urban challenges. This year’s summit, to be held on 24-27 March 2022 in Kocaeli, will be organized around the theme “Resilient Cities and the Transformation of the City”.

UNDP also agreed to work more closely with Kocaeli in efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on SDG 11, “Sustainable Cities and Communities.”

“Building resilience has become top priority for every city in the world,” said Tahir Büyükakın, Mayor of Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality. “Mayors everywhere are facing daunting challenges, starting with the pandemic and the threat of climate-driven disasters. The Kartepe Summit gives us all a chance to sit together to plot a path to a greener, safer, more sustainable future. We are delighted that UNDP is joining us in our quest to build resilient cities.”

“Cities are key to sustainable development, given the growing share of people who live and work in urban areas,” said UNDP Resident Representative Louisa Vinton. “They are a source of many of the challenges we face but also the forum we look to for solutions. This is why we are so proud to join forces with Kocaeli in shaping the content of this year’s Kartepe Summit.”  

At the Kartepe Summit 2022, mayors, sustainable development professionals, academicians, and intellectuals from Turkey and around the world will come together to discuss contemporary urban challenges and solutions from the perspective of the SDGs. The topics to be covered include the Paris Agreement, climate-driven disasters and migration, post-pandemic urban life, zero waste, environmentally sensitive industries and financing for resilient cities.

At the summit, key stakeholders will share their thoughts and good practices to inspire action and change towards more resilient cities and sustainable development in Turkey. The agenda will also include case studies of “smart cities” from around the world; a technology fair of innovative projects designed for resilient cities; and a forum on volunteerism in disasters.

Contact information:

Faik Uyanık, UNDP in Turkey, faik.uyanik@undp.org

Tamer Çeliker, Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, 0530 228 3620

For related photos: Tamer Çeliker, +90 530 228 3620

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. tr.undp.org.

Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality has been organizing the Kartepe Summit since 2017. It works with universities and different institutions and organizations to ensure the coordination of the summit. kocaeli.bel.tr

Kartepe Summit, which will be organized for the fourth time this year, gathers with a theme that concerns the world and humanity. Issues around the determined theme are handled and discussed with an interdisciplinary approach to develop definitions and solutions. The results of the summit are shared with the world via the “Declaration of the Kartepe Summit”. Through the summit, scientists, researchers, members of civil society, policy makers, decision makers and journalists have a chance to share their thoughts and suggestions with the public.  kartepezirvesi.com