Climate change adaptation status of Turkish local governments: A comparative analysis

As the impacts of climate change intensify, local governments around the world are increasingly recognizing the need for adaptation strategies and actions tailored to their contexts. Although local climate adaptation has been widely studied, existing research focuses on specific regions, city types, or methods. Furthermore, few studies exist on emerging economies, where adaptation is an urgent and vital need. In this paper, we aim to analyse the adaptation status of Turkish local governments and to create insights for decision makers in understanding their current situation and developing tailored adaptation strategies. Our analysis draws on an indicator-based assessment framework that covers political, organizational, knowledge, social, economic and physical dimensions. Based on the assessment framework, we designed and conducted a survey with a total of 12 metropolitan, provincial and district municipalities, and examined documents on national and local climate policy and action. Results show that certain municipalities have made significant progress in adopting and implementing adaptation measures. However, several barriers persist, including a lack of technical expertise in risk assessment and hazard monitoring, inadequate infrastructure projects and training programs, and a shortage of trained experts and technical staff. By synthesizing empirical evidence and the assessment framework, the paper contributes to a better understanding of local climate adaptation, offering insights that can support municipalities in devising effective adaptation strategies by building on their strengths and addressing their weaknesses.