Combating climate change: Critical evaluation of climate change action plans on urban scale

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Mimarlık Fakültesi, Şehir ve Bölge Planlama Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2016

Öğrenci: DİREN KOCAKUŞAK

Danışman: OSMAN BALABAN

Özet:

Climate change and global warming have potential to evolve into one of the most devastating catastrophes in the history of humankind. Several devastating effects of climate change are already visible. Currently, there are both international and national efforts going on for the solution of this problem. Leaving some exceptional cases out of the topic, it is hard to say any of these actions lead to successful global results yet. Urban areas have increasingly important position in both adaptation and mitigation activities. With current consumption habits and greenhouse gases emission levels, cities are vital part of this problem. Besides, for several opportunities they provide, cities have potential to be solution of this problem as well. Although discussions are generally concentrated on national commitments and targets, it can be argued that it is not possible to achieve these targets without effective city level action. This research will be elaborated on climate change action plans at urban scale. Climate change action plans, are framework documents which outline the specific policies and activities to deal with this phenomenon. In order to evaluate climate change action planning process, international guidelines for preparing climate change action plans will be researched. The study will involve the assessment of Chicago Climate Action Plan with regard to determined international guidelines. Case study of this research will be the assessment of Gaziantep Municipality’s Climate Action Plan. The importance of this research is to reveal successes and weaknesses of this plan, which entered into force four years ago.