The CityAir Project to Improve Air Quality and Raise Public Awareness in Cities, carried out by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, was introduced in Ankara. The European Union Delegation and Ministry officials attended the presentation meeting of the project.
The "Improving Air Quality in Cities and Raising Public Awareness" project, which was carried out by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, was introduced in Ankara. The European Union (EU) Delegation and Ministry officials attended the meeting. Presentations and video screenings of the works were made in the program.
At the close of the meeting, IPA Director Ismail Raci Bayer, head of the EU Investments Agency, reminded that Turkey, as a candidate country for the EU, benefits from pre-accession financial assistance (IPA) funds allocated by the union to candidate states. Director Bayer stated that they are responsible for environmental and climate priority projects carried out with funds as the IPA unit serving within the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, adding that IPA funds have left behind 2 periods, there are 30 infrastructure projects totaling 700 million euros for the IPA 1 period and 7 technical support projects are provided to 9 million citizens in EU standard. Bayer said that although the EU grant rate has decreased during the IPA 2 Environmental and Climate Action Sector Operational Programme, which will be completed by the end of 2026, 15 technical support and 21 infrastructure projects will provide EU-standard environmental infrastructure services to 3 million more people.
Laurent Guirkinger, deputy head of the EU Delegation to Turkey, said that since 2002, they have provided turkey with financial support of about €1.5 billion on environmental and climate issues, adding that "we anticipate that a clean air package of EUR 2.2 billion will be spent by 2030."
The goal is fresh air
Within the scope of the project, which aims to provide citizens with the main purpose of breathing fresh air, clean air action plans were created in 31 provinces. In line with the development of public awareness, which is an important component of the project, this awareness was tried to be increased by reaching students, health workers, teachers, young people and citizens for 3 years. Ministry personnel in 31 provinces gave various trainings on air pollution and organized workshops.
The provinces involved in the project are: Aydın, Denizli, Izmir, Manisa, Mugla, Uşak, Adana, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Mersin, Osmaniye, Amasya, Çorum, Giresun, Ordu, Samsun, Sinop, Sivas, Tokat, Afyonkarahisar, Aksaray, Antalya, Burdur, Isparta, Karaman, Kayseri, Konya, Nevşehir and Nigde.
