Climate smart city and landscape context in the framework of sustainability: Case of Bartın

Although cities both contain factors that exacerbate the climate crisis and are vulnerable to climate change, they also have the potential to lead adaptation and mitigation efforts. Within the global agenda, supported by international partnerships and policies aimed at achieving sustainable cities "climate-smart cities" emerge as a concept that integrates climate-responsive strategies into the systemic operation of smart cities. Based on the idea that evaluating cities within a framework consisting of sectors addressing both mitigation and adaptation to the climate change would provide a roadmap for urban areas, a case study was conducted within the Bartın Municipality and its adjacent jurisdiction. The primary objective of this study was to assess Bartın's current capacity to address the climate crisis and to develop mitigation- and adaptation-focused actions that would strengthen this capacity. For the purpose of assessing the current situation, the "Climate-Smart Cities Assessment Framework 3.0" was employed as a tool conducive to evaluating both mitigation and adaptation measures and to enhancing cities' climate resilience. This framework comprises the sectors of "Urban Planning, Green Cover and Biodiversity; Energy and Green Buildings; Mobility and Air Quality; Water Management and Waste Management." in alignment with international development goals, national development targets, and local priorities, the indicators "Food Security and Urban Agriculture" and "Proportion of Protected Areas" were also integrated into the framework. All indicators were substantiated with reference to the country's mitigation and adaptation commitments and relevant regulations. Offering a holistic perspective on climate-smart cities from a landscape standpoint, the finalized framework was applied within the Bartın Municipality and its environs. Empirical evidence gathered through this process determined Bartın's Climate-Smart City Score to be 45,05. This score classifies Bartın as a "Climate Trendsetter" and situates it "among cities that have initiated climate action planning or have institutional mechanisms in place to facilitate such planning".