As part of the JUST4CARE Horizon Europe project, Bursa Uludağ University recently hosted a two-day Information, Visibility, and Dissemination Meeting to discuss climate adaptation strategies in Çankaya, a pilot area within the project. The event brought together representatives from Çankaya Municipality, the Resource, Environment and Climate Association (REC), students, and local stakeholders to explore how just climate adaptation can be implemented in practice.
The meeting focused on presenting the JUST4CARE project’s goals, discussing the Çankaya Pilot Study, and identifying opportunities for collaboration to strengthen community resilience in the face of climate challenges.
Central to the discussions was the Çankaya Pilot Study, which aims to develop an Urban Living Laboratory (ULL) in the Bademlidere neighborhood. This initiative seeks to create a participatory framework for climate adaptation, ensuring that solutions are inclusive, locally relevant, and responsive to the needs of vulnerable groups.
Key topics included:
- Engaging students and local stakeholders in the project’s development, fostering a sense of shared ownership.
- Linking climate adaptation with energy transition strategies, particularly through the concept of Positive Energy Districts, to address both environmental and social challenges.
- Strengthening local capacity by building networks and sharing knowledge, with the goal of making Çankaya’s adaptation efforts scalable and adaptable to other urban contexts.
The discussions in Bursa highlighted the importance of collaboration, local knowledge, and inclusive planning in climate adaptation. By bringing together academia, local government, and community representatives, the JUST4CARE project is working to ensure that adaptation efforts in Çankaya—and beyond—are grounded in equity, participation, and long-term resilience.
As the pilot moves forward, the insights gained from this process will contribute to a broader understanding of how cities can adapt to climate change in ways that are both effective and just.