For Nilüfer, one of the 17 districts of Bursa Province in Turkey, winning the Transformative Action Award 2017 was truly unexpected.
"I would like to thank the jury one by one!" said Nilüfer Municipality Councillor Pelin Sevgi, who accepted the award. "We were competing against some very strong candidates, who put forward very impressive actions, so it’s a great honour to receive this award."
The Nilüfer city administration helped to organise previously disorganised sections of civil society, ensuring they could participate in decision making through the establishment of neighbourhood committees (NCs). These NCs represent their neighbourhoods at city council level. Quotas were set to ensure that the NCs are also comprised of women, youth, disabled citizens and LGTBI residents.
Within the council, the NCs have a mandate to: ensure increased and effective participation of women in urban life and to focus on gender issues in decision making processes; protect cultural-historical heritage; expand urban rights and the awareness of them; develop necessary local participation infrastructure and facilities for citizens; and prioritise and attach importance to policies that aim to create equal opportunities for LGTBI residents, elderly people, the youth, and disabled people.
The Turkish city’s work to increase civic engagement was deemed to be the most impressive Transformative Action, as it innovatively addressed the pathways of the Basque Declaration: socio-cultural transformation; socio-economic transformation; and technological transformation.
“The Transformative Action Award allows for the exchange of innovative best practice and experience in the fight against climate change; benefitting local and regional authorities, who work on the ground to implement sustainability measures,” said Cor Lamers, ENVE Commission Chair and jury member.
The award ceremony was held in Brussels (Belgium) at the European Committee of the Regions, during an ENVE Commission session with delegates from across the continent. Nilüfer was competing against fellow nominees Mannheim (Germany), who were shortlisted for making energy and climate measures more visible; Udaltalde 21, Nerbioi-Ibaizabal (Basque Country, Spain), for joining forces for a common sustainability agenda in neighbouring municipalities; and Zaragoza (Spain), for turning citizens into “city makers”, through putting their ideas into action.
"When it comes to sustainable development and our shared fight against climate change, the level of ambition seen locally often outshines national governments. At the local level we witness innovative thinking on sustainability that is making a difference. This award is a celebration of these efforts. It shows that local leadership is making millions of citizens’ lives more liveable, sustainable and inclusive," said Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the European Committee of the Regions and host of the ceremony.
“I think for all of the nominees, but particularly the winning city, the Transformative Action Award shows that their city has courage, it shows inspiration and innovation. It also shows that one can stand up beyond the ‘business as usual’ political agenda and think outside the box and try to do something in a different way,” said ICLEI Secretary General Gino van Begin. “Some of the nominated cities have come from a very difficult situation, have had a legacy of industrial problems, or other issues, also from a democratic perspective, so I think overcoming those challenges really should inspire all of us. And it is worthwhile to reward that innovation and action that they have undertaken.”
During the award ceremony the jury singled out Udaltalde 21 (Basque Country, Spain) for a special mention.
“We are proud to have been given a special mention as part of the award ceremony. Small and medium-sized municipalities, working together, can develop quality sustainability policies,” said Miguel Ángel Herrero Miravalles, President of Udaltalde 21.
The Basque Declaration played a central role in inspiring and guiding each of the nominated cities’ actions.
"The Basque Declaration brings together the SDGs, the Paris Climate Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, the Climate Framework Convention and others in a comprehensive way and translates them into practical agendas local and regional governments can follow in order to become sustainable. In that way the Basque Declaration is really a guidance tool for all those in Europe who would like to understand how to implement SDGs locally," said ICLEI Secretary General van Begin.
During the Award Ceremony Basque Country Minister for the Enviornment Iñaki Arriola López called upon cities to join the Basque Declaration by undertaking their own transformative actions, so that a multiplier effect can be achieved across the European Union.
For those cities thinking of applying for the Transformative Action award 2018, Councillor Sevgi has the following advice: "If you want to share your sustainability actions with others and if you want to be visible, just apply for it. If you decide to go for it, you too could be the winner!”