Edirne Mayor Av. Filiz Gencan Akın, alongside Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, attended the B40 Balkan Cities Summit held in Sofia. The summit aimed to strengthen cooperation among Balkan cities and discuss sustainable development.
Representing Edirne, Mayor Gencan Akın participated in a panel titled “Local Climate Action: Strategies for Sustainable Urban Planning and Green Energy Initiatives,” where she shared the municipality’s projects on sustainable development.
Mayor Gencan Akın discussed Edirne’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint while preserving its natural environment. In 2022, Edirne Municipality signed the Mayor’s Covenant, committing to a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and an 80% reduction by 2050. To achieve these goals, the municipality has developed various strategies and action plans within the framework of the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP). Additionally, the municipality is working on green space expansion, solar energy projects, waste management, and biogas production.
The summit was also attended by the mayors of Izmir, Muğla, Tekirdağ, and Çanakkale. The delegation, led by Ekrem İmamoğlu, visited Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev and toured the Sofia Embassy Residence. The summit continued with the introduction of new members, a signing ceremony, and the transfer of the B40 Presidency to Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev. There was also a detailed presentation on updates to the B40 Network’s organizational structure.
Mayor Gencan Akın emphasized the strong institutional framework of the B40 network, noting that it was established for fostering stronger cooperation and a more resilient future. She also highlighted B40 as an essential platform for strengthening local democracy and sharing best practices between cities. The summit focused on topics such as local climate action, local democracy, and migration. Mayor Gencan Akın expressed that B40 plays a significant role in strengthening cities through collaboration and exchange of ideas. She further pointed out that the strengthening of cities ultimately leads to the strengthening of countries, emphasizing that local leaders are working together beyond political divides.
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