Mayor Altay Calls for Global Unity to Combat Climate Crisis

UCLG President and Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay addressed mayors as well as local and regional leaders from different parts of the world at the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) World Council.

Speaking at the “UNIDO Mayors Dialogue” session of the UCLG World Council held in Shiyan, China, UCLG and Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay stated that one of the most significant problems facing cities today is climate change, noting that each city has different areas of impact regarding this issue.

Emphasizing the challenges faced by different cities around the world regarding the climate crisis, Mayor Altay said, “We need to come together to overcome these problems. Some of us are struggling with drought, others with heavy rainfall, and some are facing the risk of disappearing beneath the oceans. As UCLG, our efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change provide valuable vision and guidance to our mayors and local leaders. One of our main priorities on UCLG platforms is ensuring peace, followed by preparing our cities for climate change. I hope we will carry out and win this struggle together. We have no other choice; we have only one planet.”

Stating that they encourage industrialists to adopt renewable energy, carbon-neutral production processes, and resource efficiency, Mayor Altay said, “With our Green Organized Industrial Zone model, we address low-carbon production, waste reuse, and water conservation together. In addition, through our Konya Technology Valley Project, which supports our entrepreneurship ecosystem, we are leading the emergence of innovative initiatives in the fields of energy efficiency, smart agriculture, and eco-friendly transportation.”

At the end of his speech, Mayor Altay quoted Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi’s words, “It is not those who speak the same language, but those who share the same feelings who understand each other,” and said, “We share the same feelings and strive for a fairer, more peaceful, and more livable world. The strongest will to turn this aspiration into reality rises from the local level.”