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- Bursa becomes EBRD Green City, the fifth in the country
- EBRD provides financing for city’s water project
- Bursa to commit to Green Cities Action Plan on green agenda
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has welcomed Bursa, one of Türkiye’s largest cities, into its Green Cities programme, making it the fifth city in the country, and 60th overall, to join the programme.
Launching the partnership, the Bank is providing a loan of €70 million to Bursa Water and Sewage Administration (BUSKI) to finance the construction of a new water transmission line, a drinking water treatment plant and three reservoirs. The loan will include a contribution of up to €5 million from The Clean Technology Fund.
The project will be instrumental in providing the city not just with safe drinking water for its growing population and industrial needs, but also with sustainable and energy efficient water resources.
The Bank will also help Bursa to develop its Green Cities Action Plan, which will identify environmental challenges and support the expansion of green policies and investments in the city.
Bursa, known traditionally as “Green Bursa” due to its rich natural beauty, is the fourth largest city in the country, with a population of over 3 million. BUSKI is an affiliated entity of the city, with 1.4 million subscribers.
Sue Barrett, EBRD Director for Infrastructure in Türkiye, Middle East and Africa, said: “We are pleased to be welcoming Bursa into our Green Cities programme. Bursa is a city rich in tradition and identity, with a dynamism that continues to grow each day. To provide Bursa with healthier, more sustainable options in water management will ensure a greener future for the city, allowing it to respond more efficiently to environmental challenges.
“We are confident that our partnership will contribute to the city’s green transition by reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. Coupled with an efficient Green Cities Action Plan, our partnership will ensure a greener Bursa, while also accelerating Türkiye’s environmental agenda by helping to transform one of its key cities.”
Sule Kilic, EBRD Deputy Head for Türkiye, also spoke on the partnership, stating: “Sustainable infrastructure is key for a greener urban living. Our joint forces on this project, and on Bursa’s upcoming journey as the fifth Green City in the country, will not only ensure cleaner and healthier resources for the city’s population, but will also usher in a new roadmap for Bursa towards sustainable living. At the EBRD we are committed to securing a green future for Türkiye, and we are aware of the significance our big cities play on that path. We are grateful to have Bursa with us, and hope that this will serve as an example to all our cities – in Türkiye and throughout all our regions.”
Alinur Aktas, the Mayor of Bursa, said: “As a city we have been taking important steps towards improving environmental performance in recent years by developing strategies and investing in green infrastructure, and waste and water management. We are looking to adopt a more synthesis-based approach to address the urban environmental problems we are experiencing. In this context, we aim to carry out a provincial-level analysis by participating in the EBRD Green Cities programme. The Green City Action Plan to be prepared will complement the previously prepared Bursa Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (BUSECAP), and will form Bursa’s roadmap to tackle environmental challenges and climate change.”
EBRD Green Cities is a fast-growing urban sustainability programme with a financing volume of €5 billion, launched in 2016 to address the enormous environmental challenges presented by urban conurbations. EBRD Green Cities has won support from multilateral donors and attracted significant levels of co-finance.
To date, the EBRD has invested more than €18 billion in various sectors of the Turkish economy, largely in the private sector.