Bursa to Adopt Urban Resilience Charter

Bursa Metropolitan Municipality has taken a concrete step toward boosting urban safety by drafting a comprehensive Disaster and Urban Resilience Charter. A recent evaluation meeting, chaired by Acting Mayor Şahin Biba, gathered department heads, affiliated companies and academic representatives to shape the document.

The charter targets a city resilient to earthquakes, floods, landslides, fires and storms. It emphasizes risk reduction, minimizing loss of life and property, and embedding scientific approaches in planning, investment, infrastructure, environment and social services. Participants shared views and suggestions, enriching the final version.

“We will go beyond classical municipal models,” said Biba, highlighting the goal of pre‑empting potential disaster risks. “Scientific findings will be turned into concrete actions, turning wishes into an institutional charter.” The draft was prepared with financial realism, ensuring commitments fall within the municipality’s authority.

Biba stressed that every resource allocated to risk reduction secures the city’s future. “Urban resilience is a shared responsibility,” he noted, calling on public agencies, district municipalities, universities, professional chambers, private sector, NGOs and citizens to join the effort.

The charter, slated for public release on 13 October, will be refined through collaborative input. “Let’s make this the ‘Disaster Constitution’ of Bursa, guided by science and common sense, and transform our city into a resilient, risk‑aware metropolis,” Biba concluded.