SENTRUM LAUNCH 11 AUGUST 2021

“Success triangle” to support green tourism in Turkey

Enerjisa, Sabancı University and UNDP are joining forces to transform Küçükköy into an environmental sustainability model.

Enerjisa Enerji, Sabancı University and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), aiming to develop the potential in the tourism sector, which is among the vital sectors of the Turkish economy, and to contribute to its sustainability, have joined forces to develop a “green destination model” in Küçükköy, a promising tourism destination in Ayvalık that hosts one million tourists annually, and to initiate studies to spread energy efficiency, renewable energy and other sustainable tourism practices in tourism establishments.
The initiative aims to develop a scalable, replicable and sustainable tourism application model that will reduce fossil fuel use on the one hand, and spread the use of renewable energy sources, which represent a potential that has not yet been widely utilized in Turkey, within an 18-month timeframe. The joint study to establish the Sustainable Energy-Based Tourism Application Center (SENTRUM) is only the beginning of this work; The results of the pilot study will be implemented in other locations.
Speaking at the launch meeting of the SENTRUM project, Sabancı Holding Board of Directors Chair and Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı underlined that Sabancı University aims to raise students who are socially engaged and sensitive to society.

Expressing her happiness that they have implemented a project that adds value to the region with the support of Sabancı University in partnership with Enerjisa Enerji and UNDP, Güler Sabancı said, “There is joint development in Sabancı University’s philosophy. Here, UNDP, Enerjisa and Sabancı University are creating a triangle of success and we are implementing the Sustainable Energy-Based Tourism Application Center with this understanding. From now on, we will do great things for this world in unity and solidarity.”

Tourism, one of the vital sectors of the Turkish economy, produced 12.7 percent of the national GDP in 2019, just before the global pandemic. Therefore, ensuring that the tourism sector is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable is among Turkey’s national development priorities.

“Tourism is a sector with very rich potential for Turkey,” said Louisa Vinton, UNDP Turkey Resident Representative, “However, if we continue to violate environmental limits, there is a risk that this potential will be wasted. Our aim is to help tourism businesses transform towards an environmentally friendly environment.”

Sabancı Holding Energy Group President and Enerjisa Energy Board Chairman Kıvanç Zaimler said, “Every step we have taken under the roof of Sabancı Group for over 90 years is illuminated by our vision of giving back to these lands what we have taken from them. Therefore, the scope of our project will not be limited to tourism businesses, buildings and museums in the region; it will also aim to increase the awareness of the local people and local and foreign tourists visiting the region on energy efficiency and sustainable tourism.”

In the initiative financed by Enerjisa, UNDP will first prepare a destination-specific socio-economic and environmental plan for Küçükköy, a situation analysis for tourism businesses in the region on energy saving and energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy resources, a sustainable production and consumption strategy, and a green purchasing and supply chain management strategy.

Supporting green energy is only one part of the sustainability equation. The initiative will also aim to ensure that local communities benefit from tourism by taking advantage of UNDP’s integrated approach. At this point, creating opportunities for women will be at the center of all efforts. For example, UNDP will provide training to women in the region in the fields of energy auditing and energy consultancy in tourism businesses in order to reduce widespread gender inequalities in the energy sector.

In order to ensure local ownership and inclusiveness, project activities will also ensure the participation of municipalities, the provincial organization of the central government, NGOs, universities and local communities. To this end, UNDP will establish the SENTRUM Coordination Office at the Sabancı University Creative Technologies Workshop in Küçükköy. The office will disseminate knowledge in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Enerjisa Enerji will also support this process, which will be the beginning of a major transformation with its environmental, social and economic potential, with the integration of its products under the brand “İşimin Enerjisi”, which evaluates issues such as energy efficiency, savings, reduction of carbon emissions and encouragement of the use of renewable energy resources, with a focus on sustainability.

*For information on the Sustainable Development Goals: kureselamaclar.org