13.3.4. Inform and support government
Last Updated:
- English
- Türkçe
13.3.4. Inform and support government
In 2025, METU informed and supported local and regional governments in monitoring climate-related risks and providing early warning.
Sea of Marmara: MARMOD Phase III (2024–2025)
With the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, the METU Institute of Marine Sciences built a Digital Twin of the Sea of Marmara that monitors and models pollution loads and water quality, giving authorities a tool to anticipate and respond to risks such as mucilage outbreaks. The project was completed on 4 December 2025.
Marine observing system (DEKOSİM)
METU's Marine Ecosystem and Climate Research Centre (DEKOSİM) runs long-term observations of Turkish seas (the Erdemli Time Series, Argo floats and moored buoys). Under a protocol with the General Directorate of Meteorology, meteorological data from METU's buoy systems are shared in real time.
Mersin: coastal pollution and climate monitoring with Mersin Metropolitan Municipality
In 2025, METU CLIMATE and the Department of Environmental Protection and Control of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality started a joint study, 'Monitoring of marine pollution along the Mersin coast and the effect of climate change', which was still running at the end of the year. METU CLIMATE also works with the Climate and Sustainable Development Commission and the City and Sea Commission of the Mersin City Council, and presented 'Digital twins for climate-resilient coastal cities' at Mersin Yenişehir Municipality's event on climate-friendly, smart city practices.
https://iklim.metu.edu.tr/sites/iklim.metu.edu.tr/files/birim_faaliyet_raporu_ocak_2025_0426.pdf
National: climate adaptation awareness conference (Ministry and UNDP)
Under the 'Strengthening Climate Adaptation Action in Türkiye' project run by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change with UNDP, METU CLIMATE presented 'The disruptive effects of climate hazards on cultural heritage buildings' at an awareness-raising workshop in Mardin. The talk covered how sea-level rise affects coastal cultural heritage and how vulnerability can be analysed at national and local level, and METU then joined focus meetings with the participants.
https://iklim.metu.edu.tr/sites/iklim.metu.edu.tr/files/birim_faaliyet_raporu_ocak_2025_0426.pdf
Konya: urban monitoring framework with the Ministry (2025–2026)
In May 2025, METU began the Urban Monitoring Framework Pilot Study for the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, which applies UN-Habitat's Global Urban Monitoring Framework in Türkiye for the first time, with Konya Metropolitan Municipality as the pilot city. The project builds an urban data inventory for Konya, carries out an indicator-based analysis of the city (including whether it is safe, inclusive, resilient and sustainable) with TÜİK, local authorities and NGOs, and gives the municipality evidence for its decisions on spatial planning, infrastructure, social policy and climate strategy. It also prepares a city monitoring report for UN-Habitat and a model that other Turkish cities can adopt.