Final Conference of Enhancing Required Joint Efforts on Climate Change Project (İklimIN) carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and supported by the European Union Pre-Participation Financial Aid Tool (IPA), was held in Ankara in February 2020. About 500 people, including representatives of public institutions, relevant NGOs, local governments, international organizations and universities, attended the event.

In the event which started with the speeches of Angel Gutierrez Hidalgo de Quintana, Deputy Chairman of the Financial Cooperation of European Union Delegation to Turkey, Bülent Özcan, General Deputy Director of Financial Cooperation and Project Implementation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Presidency of European Union, Sebahattin Dökmeci, General Manager of Environmental Management of Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Ankara Waste Children’s Choir performed a show with the instruments made of waste materials.

The event moderated by actor, screenwriter and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Mert Fırat continued with the “Climate Change Education Campaign Panel”.The panel was attended by Prof. Dr. Doğanay Tolunay, Prof. Dr. Didem Evci Kiraz, Dr. Nuran Talu, Prof. Dr. Zeynep Zaimoğlu, among the academicians who provided education to 1090 participants by visiting 20 provinces within the scope of the education campaign, and Ömer Öztürk, the representative of the Climate Change and Adaptation Department. During the panel, the activities carried out within the scope of educational campaign and the efforts to fight against climate change and adaptation to climate change in Turkey were discussed.

The session in afternoon started with the presentation of Prof. Dr. Nezih Orhon, Head of Cinema and Television Department of Eskişehir Anadolu University, on the National Climate Change Communication Strategy and Plan. In the “Grant Projects Panel” held after the presentation, representatives of 37 grant projects were invited to the stage and local works carried out under the grant program were shared with the participants.

Within the scope of the grant program, which is one of the most important activities of the project, which was implemented for 30 months and ended on February 13, 2020, a total fund of 3 million 500 thousand Euros was provided to 37 projects carried out in 27 provinces and 714 thousand people were directly reached. Grant projects in many areas ranging from renewable energy practices, green infrastructure planning, forestry and afforestation works and to preparation of strategy and action plan etc. by 13 Metropolitan Municipalities, 11 Universities, 9 local public institutions and 4 NGOs have been supported with the local efforts.