The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Mersin Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) have officially launched the development of the Mersin Green City Action Plan (GCAP), marking a significant step in the city’s journey towards a greener, more resilient and sustainable future.

The joining event, held on 23 July 2026, brought together representatives from public institutions, district municipalities, universities, professional chambers, civil society organisations and the private sector. The event was followed by the first stakeholder workshop, providing a platform for participants to identify Mersin’s most pressing environmental challenges and discuss priorities for future action.

The GCAP will establish a strategic roadmap to help Mersin address key environmental issues while supporting sustainable urban growth. The plan will include priority infrastructure investments, policy measures and institutional actions across sectors such as climate change, energy, transport, water and wastewater management, solid waste management, natural areas, land use and urban planning.

As part of the EBRD Green Cities programme, Mersin joins a growing network of cities committed to improving environmental performance and quality of life through targeted investments and policy reforms. The development of the Mersin GCAP is supported by the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), part of the Climate Investment Funds partnership.

Speaking at the event, Hamit Mert Avcı, Deputy Mayor of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, highlighted the Municipality’s commitment to green transformation and environmental sustainability. He noted that the Green City Action Plan is a key strategic initiative that will guide the city’s future development and strengthen its position as a leading sustainable city in the Mediterranean region.

İdil Gürsel, EBRD Head of Infrastructure for Türkiye, noted that the Green Cities programme has grown to 60 cities across 25 countries since its launch in 2016, mobilising over €3.5 billion in financing and benefiting more than 80 million people. She highlighted that a GCAP is more than a strategic document, it is also a platform for transforming priorities into investable projects and mobilising financing for urban green transition.

Dr Bülent Halisdemir, Head of the Environmental Protection and Control Department of MMM and Green City Office, stressed that the GCAP is not merely a technical study but a strategic roadmap that will define the city’s environmental priorities, identify investment needs and guide future projects. He emphasised the importance of collaboration among public institutions, universities, businesses, civil society and residents in shaping a successful plan.

A distinctive feature of the Mersin GCAP will be a dedicated Marine Pollution and Solid Waste Management Module, reflecting the city’s unique coastal setting, international port activities and extensive Mediterranean shoreline. The module will help identify actions to reduce marine pollution and strengthen the sustainable management of land-to-sea environmental pressures.

Following the event, the first stakeholder engagement workshop was held to gather initial views from a broad range of stakeholders on Mersin’s key environmental challenges and priorities. After this successful start to the Mersin GCAP development process, the consultant team will undertake a comprehensive technical assessment of the city’s environmental challenges, develop a baseline analysis, engage stakeholders across sectors, and prepare a set of prioritised actions and investment opportunities to support Mersin’s long-term sustainability objectives.

Ankara, Bursa, Gaziantep, İstanbul, Izmir and Muğla are also part of the EBRD Green Cities program in Türkiye.