The Izmir Gevrek Model, aiming to live in a thriving, regenerative and inclusive Izmir
IZMIR GEVREK MODEL -IZMIR MUNICIPALITY, TURKIYE
The only reason, the only excuse, for the study of economic theory is to make this world a better place in which to live. - Wesley Clair Mitchell
Izmir Gevrek Model, developed within Raworth’s doughnut model framework, aims to build a thriving, regenerative and inclusive Izmir in context of global responsibilities. If we want to prepare for the future and build an inhabitable world, we have to preserve and improve the ecosystem of Izmir so that it has a stable climate, fertile soils, healthy oceans, a protective ozone layer, ample fresh water and thriving biodiversity within these ecological boundaries, which makes our region one of the inhabitable regions of the earth.
Izmir Gevrek Model shows that the social and ecological problems of the city are interconnected. Aspiration of the model is to develop habits of intergenerational thinking and doing in Izmir as a thriving city, and to bequeath to future generations an “ecologically safe and socially just” urban life, embracing today's new value system. Considering social thresholds and planetary boundaries together, the Gevrek model sets out a global, national and regional approach, framing this sustainable development. Izmir Gevrek Model invites to explore what it means to thrive in Gevrek; to create a new city portrait that make allowance for location, context, culture and global status of Izmir; and to start out a transformation towards the model’s vision with all agents and stakeholders.
With these ambitions, Izmir has brought the Doughnut - or as we called Gevrek - to 5-year strategic plan (2025-2029) being developed by IZPA (Izmir Planning Agency) and approved by city council in September 2024.
(If you wonder why we call it the Gevrek Model, here's why: One of the most commonly consumed pastries in Türkiye “Simit” is known as “Gevrek” in Izmir, as you could see in the main image. It’s made by a chickpea yeasted dough that is rolled into a circle shape, deep fried in grape molasses for a short time, then coated with sesame seeds and baked in the oven. Also, the word "gevrek" literally means fragile. We think that this reflects the delicate and elusive balance that Doughnut underlines.)
Our Objectives
The main objectives in this context are:
(a) not overshooting the ecological ceiling and ensuring that Izmir becomes a zero carbon city together with all stakeholders, and (b) not falling short the social foundation, improving the quality of life of citizens and promoting social justice together with all stakeholders.
In this way, the model aims to increase awareness on ecological and social indicators, motivates to get involved in local action and aims to achieve social transformation towards sustainable development.
The solution-based action plans to be produced within the scope of the model has been shared with the local government and Gevrek Economics Action Lab (GEAL) is established to turn the Gevrek Model into action, which bases on a community-based monitoring and information system that enables bidirectional data and information flow for impact measurement of the results of these practices.
Today, the transition process of IZPA (Izmir Planning Agency) and district municipalities to the Izmir Gevrek Model still sets on. IZPA's 2025-2029 Strategic Plan is organized with its key performance indicators and strategic area goals-objectives according to the Doughnut Model.
Our Roadmap
The journey for the Izmir Gevrek Model starts with the ambition of two main questions, which sets out the roadmap for Izmir Municipality's activities in the period 2024-2028:
How can we protect our region and the entire planet within the means of our life-giving planet in the process of urban development?
How can we ensure that people can live a good life in a thriving city, respecting boundaries of our planet and caring the well-being of all people?
To guide the Municipality in answering these two questions, seven roads or pathways based on Raworth's seven lessons are identified:
Pathway 1: Creating a thriving city by meeting local expectations with global responsibilities Pathway 2: Strengthen the linkages of the metropolitan municipality with the district municipalities and the municipalities of the Aegean Region, and then align them with national and global goals Pathway 3: Encouraging behaviors that are creative, innovative, open to developing the capacity to learn, and respectful and caring of the ecosystem in which they live Pathway 4: Promote holistic thinking for the protection and improvement of our planet's living systems and our city's ecosystem Pathway 5: Open-access to socio-economic and ecological data and redesigning shared models to replace centralized decision-making processes Pathway 6: Creating works and working conditions that regenerate, protect and enhance just like life cycles instead of unlimited growth Pathway 7: Transparency, holism and changing elements over time to refresh and revise strategic decisions as needed
The methodology to be followed in the design and implementation of the Izmir Gevrek Model is grouped under four headings:
Creating Izmir Gevrek Database for Thriving İzmir
Designating of Izmir City Portrait through Participatory Methods
Aligning the Gevrek Model with Business World
Organizing Education Program and Promotion Activities for the Dissemination and Adoption of the Model
My heart is moved by all I cannot save: so much has been destroyed I have to cast my lot with those who age after age, perversely, with no extraordinary power, reconstitute the world. - Adrienne Rich, The Dream of a Common Language: Poems 1974-1977
