Turkey has suffered from some of the worst earthquakes in history. To avert further loss of life and damage to property in the event of a natural disaster, the Turkish government has implemented an Urban Transformation Plan, to demolish and reconstruct thousands of buildings deemed to be unsafe in earthquake-prone areas.

This plan creates a great opportunity not only to construct safer buildings, but also more energy efficient ones – an ambition right up the street of TuREEFF. This is a programme rolled out by the EBRD and its partners to boost investment in energy efficiency improvements in Turkey’s residential housing sector and to help residents to reduce their energy bills and countries greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy efficiency is an area where MDBs can really make a difference. Six multilateral banks delivered $28 billion climate finance in 2014. Countries need to cut their emissions and MDB partnerships are helping – a commitment that is ever more relevant as we approach the COP21 climate conference in Paris at the end of this year.

Kasia Kukula is an Adviser- Donor Visibility within the EBRD’s Communications Department. She was raised in post-communist Poland and has a keen interest in international development and politics. Kasia holds a graduate diploma from University College London and a Master’s degree from the University of the Arts, London.