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TÜBA-Urban Transformation and Sustainable Cities Workshop
05 NOV 2024

TÜBA-Urban Transformation and Sustainable Cities Workshop

TÜBA-Urban Transformation and Sustainable Cities Workshop was hosted by Sinop University. The two-day workshop was planned to provide information on transportation and mobility, environmental management, energy efficiency and policies, security, inclusiveness and governance, local environmental planning, implementation examples and lessons learned in cities with both national and international sustainable cities approach in planning and designing urban transformation studies.

In the workshop, which was designed as a platform for the exchange of ideas organized by the TÜBA-Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Change Working Group, with the aim of addressing the issue in all its dimensions and determining transformation strategies for sustainable cities, the main topics of Urban Transformation, Sustainable Cities, Access to Services in Sustainable Cities, Environmental Management, Energy Policies, Economic Sustainability of Cities were discussed. Long-term solution proposals were presented and existing problems were effectively addressed.

The program, which started with the speeches of TÜBA President Prof. Muzaffer Şeker, Sinop University Rector Prof. Şakir Taşdemir and TÜBA Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Change Working Group Executive Director Prof. Mehmet Emin Aydın, was attended by Sinop Governor Dr. Mustafa Özarslan, Sinop Governorship Provincial Director of Environment and Climate Change Salih Livoğlu, representatives of public institutions and organizations, researchers, university academic and administrative staff, students and guests.

Six sessions were organized at the workshop. 
A total of six sessions were held at the workshop in the Olvido Conference Hall of Sinop University Ahmet Muhip Dıranas Application Hotel; the sessions were chaired by TÜBA Members Prof. Mehmet Emin Aydın, Prof. İsmail Koyuncu and Prof. Eyüp Debik, Prof. Mete Tayanç, Prof. Gülen Güllü, Prof. Güleda Engin. The topic of urban transformation and sustainable cities was discussed under 19 headings by expert scientists from different universities in Türkiye.

It was informed that the book, which will consist of the papers of the speakers to be prepared after the workshop, will be shared with the relevant institutions and presented to the benefit of policy makers in a short time.

The written legislation can only be recovered with a human awareness study.

Prof. Şeker mentioned that cities have cultural heritage values and that they have a duty to transfer these values to future generations. Prof. Şeker stated that the protection of cultural values is also on the agenda of the United Nations and that incentives and support are given on the subject. Stating that Sinop is very rich in terms of cultural heritage, Şeker said that this heritage should be promoted much more.

President Şeker stated that each city has a personal history that includes many events, and reminded the great earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş and covering 11 cities, and stated that scientists continue to work on the points where mistakes were made regarding the grave consequences of the earthquake. Prof. Şeker explained that even during the evaluations of the TÜBA Council during its visit to the region immediately after the earthquake, self-criticisms were made that lessons should be learned in terms of university education. He underlined how university campuses have a valuable function in terms of a protective area and logistical support in times of disasters and crises, and that they make important contributions to the rehabilitation process.  Stating that the report prepared by TÜBA after the earthquake, which included the contributions of scientists from social sciences as well as engineering, architecture and urban planning departments of Türkiye's leading technical universities, included the results obtained and solution suggestions, Şeker stated that some of the practices made in the past have been forgotten and that this forgetfulness has caused many more problems and cost human lives the most. Şeker continued as follows: “We see that the housing supply and demand that emerged after the excessive growth of the city with migration led to the realization of residential areas that do not meet the needs and are not in compliance with the legislation. Although the legislation, which evaluates each of these separately, has been reorganized and many details have been addressed legally, it is clear that the main problem is in practice, and the points of the legislation for practice need to be reinforced one by one. The written legislation can only be recovered with a human awareness work. In some issues, as audit mechanisms, there should be an audit of the desktop transactions in the executive sense.”

In his speech, Sinop University Rector Prof. Şakir Taşdemir expressed his satisfaction with the organization of the workshop at Sinop University and said, “We are happy and honored to have held our workshop on urban transformation, which is one of the cornerstones of our great civilization march and one of the activities of the reconstruction process of our cities, and the sustainability of this construction, in Sinop, the pearl of the Black Sea, a beautiful island city with its green and nature, and an ancient city with its historical culture.”

Emphasizing that as cities expand to accommodate the growing population and economic activities, natural areas such as forests, wetlands and agricultural lands are transformed into built areas, TÜBA Member Prof. Mehmet Emin Aydın said that this urban sprawl process leads to habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity and fragmentation of ecosystems.

“In sustainable cities, ecosystem services can be improved by protecting natural habitats, restoring degraded ecosystems and incorporating green infrastructure into cities. In addition, the valuation of ecosystem services guides decision-making processes, ensuring that the benefits provided by urban ecosystems are taken into account in policy and planning decisions. Sustainability should be integrated into earthquake-resistant urban transformation, green and natural areas, environmental protection should be taken into account, and climate-friendly urban planning should be carried out.”