Local agenda 21 for Bozcaada, Turkey with target 100% renewable energy and eco-labeling perspective

Abstract

Local Agenda 21, followed by many local authorities around the world, aims to reach a mutual goal of sustainable development (with its economic, social, and environmental dimensions) within the destination location. Thus, because of its unique status, Turkey’s Bozcaada Island has been investigated. The concept’s importance is due to the obvious risks generated as a result of existing mass production and consumption patterns, especially where the product is the destination itself, covering waste generation and energy consumption parameters. For the tailor-made study, information was gathered from the Bozcaada District Governorship and through field studies conducted from May 2005 to September 2006, although the lack of a data recording system made data gathering difficult. Following a Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) analysis, efforts are directed towards a “Target 100% Renewable Energy” identity in addition to the current brand name, “Organic Island Bozcaada”. Other main sustainability related headings for the thesis’ Local Agenda 21 concept are the application of a GEP Green Energy Production Technologies Ltd. state-of-the-art Waste-to-Energy plant (with 6000kg/day waste minimizing, thermal energy generation for 106 houses, and 34,187,047kg of CO2 production over 25 years), along with a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study realized through GaBi4 engineering software. In addition, along with suggestions for environmental quality raising investments, an environmental evaluation from an Eco-Labeling perspective of feedstock supplying tourist accommodation services to the subject plant creates a competitive edge for environmentally sound business approaches. The study’s value is in making contemporary proposals towards sustainable tourism development: a destination approach to related stakeholders, role distribution, awareness raising on waste management, Target 100% Renewable Energy, and environmentally sound tourist accommodation services. The findings suggest that, given the integration of proposals, Bozcaada may be a remarkable pilot area for developing the Local Agenda 21 concept within Turkey.