Bandırma is a district of Balıkesir province in Türkiye. Located on the coast of the Sea of Marmara, Bandırma is an important port city. As of 2022, Bandırma's population is 161,894, and this number is expected to increase in the coming years. The city is a significant center for trade, industry, and agriculture. Bandırma is one of Türkiye's leading industrial regions and holds a strategic position for the processing and trade of agricultural products. The Bandırma port, due to its location, is one of the most important ports in the country and plays a critical role in both national and international trade with its railway connections extending throughout the country. Additionally, Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, with approximately 23,000 students, contributes significantly to education and research. In terms of industrial diversity, Bandırma hosts many large and small-scale enterprises operating in the chemical, food, energy, and logistics sectors.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Reports, Türkiye is located in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin, which is one of the regions sensitive to climate change. The IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report projects increases in annual average temperatures across all scenarios for Türkiye during the period from 2016 to 2100.
Bandırma Municipality is the public institution responsible for public services in the Bandırma district. The area of Bandırma is 690 km², and the municipality's authority covers this area. The municipality is active in various areas, including infrastructure services, environmental planning, urban planning, cleaning services, social services, and cultural and artistic activities. Additionally, it provides many services to citizens, such as sports facilities, green spaces, and parks.
Bandırma is deeply vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Consequently, Bandırma Municipality is one of the first municipalities in the Marmara Region to invest in renewable energy. In 2017, it invested in a 1 MW capacity Land Solar Power Plant, which supplies 90% of the municipality's energy expenses. The municipality has signed the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GoCM). Bandırma Municipality has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. To achieve this target, Bandırma Municipality prepared Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP). The SECAP focuses on key topics such as Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Equipment/Facilities, Urban Transport, Environmental Protection and Green Spaces, Waste Management, and Education and Awareness to achieve this goal.