Turkey and Uzbekistan Build Climate-Ready Cities

Two countries are showing the world how to build cities that can handle tomorrow's climate challenges today.

Turkey learned hard lessons when earthquakes struck in February 2023, damaging hundreds of thousands of homes and displacing millions. But the nation didn't just rebuild—it reimagined how cities should work in an uncertain climate.

Property developer Emlak Konut led the reconstruction of 450,000 homes across affected cities, restoring not just housing but entire wastewater systems, waterways, and transport networks. Every building was designed with climate resilience in mind, from materials to placement.

The energy powering those cities got smarter too. Turkey's energy market operator now runs a blockchain system called YEK-G that tracks renewable electricity from generation to consumption. Electric vehicle owners can now prove their cars run on clean energy from solar, wind, and hydropower sources.

More than 3,000 kilometers away, Uzbekistan is taking a different approach by starting from scratch. New Tashkent broke ground in 2023 on the eastern edge of the capital, and planners built climate adaptation into every decision before the first resident arrived.

The master plan includes 2,000 hectares of green space plus 500 more hectares of parks. But in a country with hot, dry summers, greenery creates a challenge—trees need water that's increasingly scarce.

Planners chose drought-resistant tree species that require less irrigation and installed drip systems to reduce water waste. Buildings will collect rainwater and reuse treated wastewater for landscaping. Even the shrubs were selected because they need less water than traditional lawns.

A new trigeneration plant provides both heating and cooling through one centralized network. In summer, it delivers chilled water for air conditioning. In winter, steam from the boiler heats homes.

Rooftop solar panels are being added to buildings across the development, turning each structure into its own small power plant. Major facilities including the trigeneration plant and electrical substations began operating in October 2026.

The Ripple Effect

Back in existing Tashkent, where streets and buildings are already in place, the city planted over 1.35 million trees and shrubs between 2022 and 2026. New green belts are planned for Bektemir district and along the Chirchiq River corridor, proving adaptation can happen in established cities too.

Chris Mensah, Special Advisor to the Climate High-Level Champion, believes the physical changes are only part of the solution. He argues climate education must start in schools, helping people understand the risks their cities face and how to respond.

These cities prove that preparing for climate change isn't about choosing between people and planet—it's about building smarter from the start.