More than half of the world’s population lives in cities. With highly energy-intense buildings and transport networks that rely mainly on private cars, it is no surprise that cities consume around 78 per cent of the world’s energy and produce more than 60 per cent of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to UN Habitat.

As the population of the 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. Cities like Izmir are 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.