The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in collaboration with the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality (BMM) and supported by the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), part of the Climate Investment Funds partnership, is progressing with the development of Bursa’s Green City Action Plan (GCAP). Led by an international consultancy team from AtkinsRéalis and their local partner, GREEN Engineering, this marks the fifth such initiative in Türkiye.

From September 9th to 11th, EBRD and BMM hosted the second round of stakeholder engagement workshops, featuring eight sector-specific technical focus groups. These workshops gathered key stakeholders to discuss priority environmental challenges and potential actions to address them. The meetings ended on 12 September with the second steering committee meeting, focused on shaping the vision and objectives for the city’s GCAP.

Bursa Mayor, Mustafa Bozbey, attended the final steering committee meeting, where he delivered closing remarks, demonstrating strong ownership and commitment to the city's sustainable development. He stated, "The decisions we made during these meetings for ‘Green Bursa’ will greatly contribute to our efforts. With the steps we take, we will first clean our sea, and together, we will achieve a ‘Green Bursa’ where we can all enjoy clean air."

This second round of workshops builds on the initial stakeholder engagement held in May 2024 and was well-received by participants, who provided valuable input toward shaping Bursa’s sustainable future. The development of the GCAP’s vision and objectives will ensure that the actions proposed in the final plan are aligned, ambitious, and achievable, securing long-term benefits in critical sectors such as water supply, energy, transport, buildings, industry, and waste management.

More than 150 participants attended the meetings, representing a diverse range of stakeholders, including municipal officials, public authorities, academics, and NGOs.

BMM, EBRD, and the consultancy team will now focus on finalising the GCAP, with plans to hold additional engagement sessions later in 2024 and early 2025. These sessions will further refine the actions and finalise the GCAP, ensuring it supports Bursa’s sustainable urban development for years to come.