On 22 November 2024, the event “Urban Transformation through Communication and Media” was held as part of the Istanbul Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SKUP) Phase II: Implementation Plan Project. The event brought together media and communication professionals, academics, and communication faculty students, creating a platform to share ideas on how sustainable mobility can be promoted in society.
In his opening remarks, Gürkan Akgün, Deputy Secretary General of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, emphasized the importance of communication campaigns and stakeholder engagement in the success of sustainable mobility plans.
Sessions highlighted international examples of sustainable mobility practices, discussing ways to strengthen cooperation between media and academia and exploring potential campaign opportunities for effective outreach.
At the panel “Cities of the Future and Communication,” topics such as climate change mitigation, sustainable mobility, urban planning, and communication strategies were addressed. Panelists included Barış Doğru (EKOIQ), Seçil Şendağ (SMI Türkiye), Akif Burak Atlar (Chamber of City Planners, TMMOB), and Oktay Kargül (Istanbul Planning Agency). They shared communication strategies and messages tailored to reach different target groups.
During the workshop session, participants exchanged campaign ideas to promote the adoption of sustainable mobility. Proposals included creating awareness across digital and traditional media platforms using a communication language that highlights environmental, health, and economic benefits. Ideas such as gamification and reward mechanisms via mobile applications to encourage public transport use also emerged, with the potential to be particularly effective in raising awareness among children and young people.
The event provided a space to share innovative communication ideas for promoting and supporting sustainable mobility solutions that aim to improve quality of life and foster a cleaner, more accessible urban environment. The message was clear: communication will play a vital role in shaping Istanbul’s future urban vision.
