Istanbul Environment Friendly City Award • 5th edition 2024-2025
Be part of the Mediterranean contest for the most sustainable coastal city
Submit your application:
from 29th November 2024 to 15th April 2025
Ms Tatjana Hema
UNEP/MAP Coordinator at Mediterranean Pavilion – COP27
The Award • Recognizing the role and contributions of cities and local authorities in fulfilling the UNEP/MAP vision for a healthy Mediterranean Sea and Coast
The Istanbul Environment Friendly City Award was created in the framework of the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD 2016-2025) to recognize efforts of local authorities in promoting sustainable development in Mediterranean coastal cities (COP 19 Decision – IEFCA).
A Mediterranean environment friendly city is “a coastal city in harmony with the sea, utilizing its resources efficiently, equitably and sustainably, reducing its impact on marine and coastal environment and climate change, and managing the environment for the benefit of current and future generations“. In other words, a coastal city in which people enjoy a high quality of life and where sustainable development takes place within the carrying capacity of healthy ecosystems.
The objectives of the Award are to encourage local authorities to move towards a more environment friendly future; enable local authorities to act as a role-model to inspire other cities; and, raise the awareness of the general public regarding the quality of environment in their cities
IEFCA 4th edition
IEFCA 3rd edition
Eligibility
Cities located along the Mediterranean coast, both small towns and metropolitan agglomerations, are invited to apply by demonstrating concrete steps taken and progress achieved to protect the environment, improve the quality of life, and promote sustainable development, in line with the priorities of the Mediterranean Action Plan and the principles enshrined in the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean.
Applications submitted by local authorities should emphasize partnerships with civil society, the scientific community and the private sector, including actions aimed at promoting urban sustainability. Both achievements and plans for strengthening urban sustainability in a Mediterranean coastal context will be considered
This year participating is even easier!
Application process
The application is open from 29th November 2024 to 15th April 2025
Please note that the call will close on 15th April 23:59 h CET
Please save for further updates the link to the application form that you received after registration.Note that the application cannot be modified after submission.
iefca@info-rac.org
The application form is structured in the following four categories:
1. Nature and biodiversity protection
2. Built environment
3. Socio-economic and cultural sustainability
4. Planning and management
More
The four categories include a selected number of macro-indicators. For each macro-indicator, you are invited to
- Reply to a few simple yes/no questions (general approach of the city)
- Describe the present situation through a text box with a description of the expected information
- Provide data to inform some quantitative indicators (current situation)
- Describe the measures and progress achieved in the last 5-10 years through a text box with a description of the expected information
- Describe perspectives and plans for the future through a text box with a description of the expected information
- Provide references, supporting documentation, etc.
It is recommended but not mandatory to provide qualitative and quantitative information for all indicators.
The “Calculation Guide” for the quantitative indicators explaining the assessment methods remains unchanged from the previous edition: LINK
Prior to submit your application, you will be invited to provide feedback and observations on the overall process and in particular on your experience with the application form.
Evaluation:
nomination and selection process
- May 2025: The Secretariat to proceed with the initial screening of the applications
- June – July 2025: The Technical Committee supported by three independent experts to propose a short list (three cities) and to draft the evaluation report
- August – September 2025: The Jury to approve the evaluation report and to nominate the winning cities
- September – October 2025: The Secretariat to notify applicant cities about the results of the selection and nomination process, and; organization of a regional experience sharing workshop with applicant cities and partners
- December 2025: Award giving ceremony
IEFCA Introductory Workshops • 2024/2025
Two infodays will be held to support cities in completing the application process. The informational sessions will include a review of the award participation rules and a guided walkthrough of the Mediterranean Coastal Cities application form.
The Istanbul Environment Friendly City Award is financially supported by the Government of Türkiye through a voluntary contribution to the UNEP/MAP Programme of Work and Budget.
This initiative is technically supported by MedCities. Promotion and communication are supported by INFO/RAC and MedCities with the collaboration of MCSD members and other UNEP-MAP strategic partners.
