Merhabalar, and welcome to Istanbul, a C40 city that is committed to slashing its carbon emissions [1]! If you are looking for a sustainable and environmentally friendly getaway this summer, then look no further than the shores of the Bosphorus. There’s something for everyone to do in this historic city that is marching forward to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals [2]. Let me walk you through why Istanbul is perfect for a sustainable city break.
Booking a hotel will be one of the first things on your mind when deciding to travel. With so much to see, it can be hard to choose where to stay! I recommend that you use trusted websites like TripAdvisor and Booking.com to check the sustainability certificates awarded to hotels that signify their efforts at reducing waste and being energy efficient. There are many in Istanbul, so it will take time!
I am sure that you will be conscious of your carbon footprint after flying to Istanbul, with flights from London emitting 0.879t of CO2 per roundtrip that accelerate the process of climate change on Earth [3]. But don’t worry, as your transport in the city won’t be nearly as harmful to the planet. Istanbul’s public transport is exceptional for its variety and reliability. It certainly contributes to the city’s claim of being sustainable, in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 11. You can hop on the metro at the airport and be at Hagia Sophia in no time. You can take the famous red tram along Istiklal Street in Taksim or catch a ferry to visit the city’s Asian side. The options are endless, and travellers can measure their expected carbon footprint on public transport with the municipality’s carbon calculator to work out the most eco-friendly way to travel around [4].
Aside from the tourist sites, you must make sure to sample some of the delicious local cuisine during your stay! You will certainly be spoilt for choice for options in Istanbul with locally owned, restaurants galore serving dishes with a zero-waste and sustainable approach [5]. Plus, doing this has the added benefit of contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 8 by helping local businesses thrive!
Or, if you would prefer, you can check out some of the dozens of Ekologic bazaars in Beşiktaş or Kadıköy to purchase some local produce [6]. You will have a good chance of finding products that might take your fancy and experience local bartering culture with the sellers, like I did! You can be sure that any goods you may want to buy at these bazaars have been grown without chemicals and are packaged in cardboard, not plastic, thereby satisfying Sustainable Development Goal 12.
[This travel guide was written by our expert Christopher Turner, a former student in Istanbul, to ensure that your trip to Turkey’s most vibrant city will satisfy your expectations and help protect the environment]
[1] https://www.c40.org/cities/istanbul/
[2] https://sdgs.un.org/goals
[3] https://co2.myclimate.org/en/portfolios?calculation_id=8070916
[4] https://karbonayakizi.iett.gov.tr/ – IETT’s carbon footprint calculator
[5] https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/istanbul-province/istanbul/restaurant/telezzuz
[6] https://www.ekoorganik.com/en/product/producer/ekologic_bazaars_turkey.aspx
