What happened
ChangeNOW HUBS Istanbul assembled actors from Türkiye’s sustainability landscape at Paribu Art Istanbul on 10 September 2026. Convened by Aplike Beyin, the Turkish licensee for ChangeNOW, the event brought business representatives, start-ups, investors, universities, civil-society organisations and young people into the same programme as COP31 approaches.
The agenda ranged from climate action and intergenerational exchange to inclusive leadership, the social role of sport, B Corp approaches and sustainable entrepreneurship. Panels were accompanied by workshops, networking, solution areas and start-up pitches.
In a session supported by the Türkiye Entrepreneurship Foundation, entrepreneurs working on environmental and social challenges presented their business models to a jury and the audience. Other discussions considered the role of language, public narratives and participation in sustainable transformation.
Why it matters
The meeting placed corporate practice, investment, entrepreneurship and civic participation within one sustainability conversation. For organisations looking for partners in Türkiye, it provided a setting in which to meet potential collaborators from across those fields and explore shared priorities.
The programme also gave prominence to younger participants and cross-generational dialogue. Organisers said they want ideas emerging from the gathering to reach decision-makers and investors, rather than remain within the event itself.
Its B Corp session addressed impact-oriented business models and measurable transformation in the Turkish business context. The climate discussions focused on moving the COP31 agenda towards practical action and cooperation among different groups.
What to watch next
Organisers describe the Istanbul gathering as the opening point for work intended to continue during the year. Their stated objective is to turn conversations and contacts from the day into enduring relationships, new initiatives and outcomes that can be measured.
Sustainability professionals seeking to engage with the network should watch for follow-up activity from ChangeNOW HUBS Istanbul, particularly work connecting local participants with the wider ChangeNOW ecosystem.
Background
ChangeNOW is a platform focused on sustainability and social impact. The Istanbul programme considered the relationship between its international network and local actors in Türkiye, including how locally developed ideas and business models could contribute to wider sustainability activity.
