Istanbul Tackles Tourist Crowds and Climate Issues Together

The Livable Caferağa project, part of WRI's Deep Dive Cities Initiative, uses a community-led approach to transform a high-traffic district in Istanbul into a more sustainable urban environment. Following a successful pilot at Mehmet Ayvalıtaş Square in September 2023, the project is implementing five core strategies: prioritizing pedestrian space with wider sidewalks and greenery, expanding bike lane networks from 18 km to 58 km by 2050, launching the 'ModaBüs' local shuttle service in late 2025, implementing sustainable parking management, and transitioning delivery services toward cargo bikes. These efforts align with Kadıköy's goals of a 40% GHG emission reduction by 2030 and full climate neutrality by 2050.

• The Caferağa neighborhood faces significant urban challenges due to its peninsula shape, which concentrates traffic and creates overcrowding that hinders mobility for its high population of older residents and people with disabilities.
• To combat air pollution and congestion, Caferağa has been designated as one of three pilot Low Emission Zones under Istanbul's Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan.
• Kadıköy Municipality is implementing a comprehensive mobility expansion, including increasing the bike lane network from 18 km to 58 km by 2050 and launching the ModaBüs shuttle service in late 2025 to provide first- and last-mile connectivity.
• The district has set ambitious climate targets, aiming for a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving full climate neutrality by 2050.
• Transitioning just 30% of the neighborhood's daily motorized deliveries to electric or active transport is estimated to eliminate approximately 425 kg of CO2 emissions per week.

APA

World Resources Institute (2025). Istanbul Tackles Tourist Crowds and Climate Issues Together. https://www.wri.org/insights/istanbul-tackles-overcrowding-climate-issues

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Istanbul Tackles Tourist Crowds and Climate Issues Together. 2025. https://www.wri.org/insights/istanbul-tackles-overcrowding-climate-issues.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Istanbul Tackles Tourist Crowds and Climate Issues Together |date=2 July 2025 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/istanbul-tackles-overcrowding-climate-issues |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2025istanbul, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Istanbul Tackles Tourist Crowds and Climate Issues Together}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/istanbul-tackles-overcrowding-climate-issues}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }