Green city officers network

Arthur Vardanyan

Gyumri / Armenia

Project Expert

My Vision

We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, but borrow it from our descendants. Let’s make one big family of conscious humanity and enjoy the sweet voice of the Earth singing.

My City

Gyumri has a rich architectural and urban heritage still remaining intact. In Armenia it is regarded as the "capital city" of arts and crafts. Humour and warm relations are in the air all around here.

In 1988 a devastating earthquake hit Gyumri. The earthquake ruined not only the buildings, but also has broken the spirit of the city. The ecology of the city has suffered as a result too. The air and water in the three local rivers are polluted. A serious issue remains with the irrigation system of the city.

However, life and hope have won here and the city has risen. A lot has been done to develop and modernise the urban infrastructure. The riverbeds are being cleaned periodically, parks are being enlarged with hectares of green mass, a protective forest layer is being planted, a partial irrigation system has been embedded and less carbon emitting LED luminaries were installed. The city carries out projects of plastic recycling, introduction of electric buses in the urban transport system, thermal insulation of residency buildings and solar energy usage. A number of projects are under discussion now. A district called Ani, founded after the earthquake, has been chosen to become a model green city.

A lot of targets are still ahead, and we are adamant in making our City a city of sustainable management and environment, a more eco-friendly and desired place, both for the residents and the guests.

My Contribution

As an expert working on the Gyumri Urban Roads project and a Green Cities Officer, I have been doing my share for road rehabilitation, the embedding of drainage networks and street lighting modernisation works in the city. Now kilometres of urban roads are clean, safe and illuminated.

We are bringing to life the project of making Ani district a model of green living, with green buildings, rehabilitated streets, an outdoor lighting system with lower emissions, electric bus and bicycle routes and a large bicycle court, of which the Gyumri Urban Roads project and EBRD’s contribution are of essence.

Çağlar Tükel

GCO of Izmir / Türkiye

My Vision

As the population of a city grows, there is more stress on and a greater threat to nature and our resources. One of the biggest challenges is to maintain economic growth while protecting the environment and nature.

My City

Izmir is now more vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate-change crises, such as drought, flood and extreme heat. Making Izmir a resilient city is challenging, therefore, but there is no other option.

My Contribution

Plans like the GCAP will have a big effect on every individual in my city. On the metro, in the street, wherever, people do not recognise me personally, but I know I am doing an important thing for them, which is such a proud feeling.

Khatia Chkhetiani

Tbilisi / Georgia

International Projects Consultant at Tbilisi City Hall, Municipal Department for Environmental Protection.

My Green Vision

I believe that now that we are facing massive environmental challenges, unsustainable management of transport, waste, energy, land and other resources is not tolerable – going green is the only way to go. For me, that means becoming environmentally conscious in every decision, pursuing knowledge and practices to make urban systems smart and sustainable.

My City

Tbilisi was one of the first cities to join the Green Cities programme. It has developed a GCAP in 2017, which helped to define strategic goals and priorities, by fulfilment of which, Tbilisi becomes a greener, more compact, safe and resilient city. By focusing on bringing nature into the city, developing new green spaces, implementing a sustainable urban planning system, as well as a waste management system, Tbilisi aims to improve its environmental impact.

My Own Contribution

I have always been concerned with caring for and protecting the environment as much as I could:

As an individual - by trying to lessen my impact on the environment (plant-based diet, shopping second-hand or environmentally friendly products, upcycling, reusing).

As a student and an NGO activist - focusing my studies on development economics and the trade-off between climate change and economic growth, organizing Sustainability Days in Tbilisi to promote sustainable living,

And my current role - I am involved in several projects regarding climate adaptation, solid waste management, development and rehabilitation of urban green spaces and public participation in the decision-making process. It is inspiring to witness different measures being implemented and gradually move from paper to reality.

Emilda Prifti

Tirana/ Albania

Director of Strategic Planning and Priorities Implementation at the Municipality of Tirana

My Green Vision

If we want a better and healthier future for our children, we need to put the green agenda at the very top of our priorities, and we have. Also the rising global warming confirms the need to shift our focus on the environment and climate aspects. It is a big challenge for a city like Tirana that is constantly growing in terms of population and size, but everything is doable.

My City

All the work that has been done so far in terms of the Green City Action Plan (GCAP) has been guided by the vision for green, resilient, sustainable and inclusive Tirana. Thanks to all this work Tirana is greener and a child friendly city. However, we still face many challenges and we have a lot of work ahead of us.

My Own Contribution

“Every little helps”: That is my moto. Small actions from every citizen can help make a change, even if you do not see it now. But it will have an impact in the long run. As a Green City Officer, I am doing my part in monitoring the implementation of the GCAP actions in my city and coordinate some of the municipality's green projects. As a citizen, I give my modest contribution by planting trees, using sustainable means of transport as well as making small daily decisions that are friendly to the environment.

Jakuta Imširović

Zenica / Bosnia and Hercegovina

Mechanical engineer, Head of the Unit for Ecology and Utilities at the municipalities’ Environmental Department

My Green Vision

My vision is for Zenica to be a clean, liveable and active City, resilient to future environmental pressures, while creating more green jobs.

My City

Zenica is a city located in a valley. It is heavily influenced by the ironworks, which has been the mark of the City for over 130 years. We face the challenge of meeting economic needs but there is also a need for a clean and healthy environment since air, water and soil are heavily polluted.

My Own Contribution

I am working in the city administration on many environmental protection and energy efficiency projects. As a teaching assistant at the university, I help prepare new generations to continue with what has been started to be realized: the dream of a green Zenica.

Lejla Ibrahimpašić

Sarajevo / Bosnia and Herzegovina

Advisor to Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton

My Green Vision

I live in a country that is considered underdeveloped by Western Countries. However, if we think for example the way the US is functioning, we would need 3 planets to satisfy our needs. I do not want my City to be developed like that. I would certainly like to see the latest technologies used in manufacturing, construction, heating, waste management and transportation that would help us reduce gas emissions. At the same time, I would like people to be more conscious and live by 3R's principles: reduce, reuse and recycle, like we used to live before, when we did not have a choice.

My City

During winter, Sarajevo is one of the most polluted cities in the world. City, which is located in a valley, additionally affected by urbanisation and development pressures, needs to find a solution to create a healthy environment for its citizens. Eco-friendly public transportation, use of thermal heating pumps instead of wood and coal and even gas, improvement of energy efficiency in the old buildings, planting of more trees, are just one of the ways Canton Sarajevo plans to transition into a green and even carbon neutral city.

My Contribution

The GCAP provides a holistic approach to solving targeted issues my City is facing. In addition, in a very efficient and effective way is creating projects that are helping my city be truly a Green City. It is my honour to be part of those projects as a Green City officer. I am happy and proud when I see new trolleybuses on the streets of Sarajevo, buildings that are more energy efficient, and most importantly happy faces of people who are the ultimate users of all those improvements we are doing for our City.