The second meeting of the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion Private Sector Consultations Series, organized in cooperation with the Zero Waste Foundation, UN Global Compact Network Türkiye, and UN Türkiye, was held in Istanbul on July 3, 2026, with the theme of "Circular Economy and Innovation."
The preparations carried out within the scope of Türkiye's COP31 Presidency focus on shaping the climate agenda with an inclusive understanding that incorporates the contributions and concrete solutions of different sectors. The consultation meetings held in this direction aim to reflect the experience and capacity of the private sector more strongly in climate action and to bring actionable proposals to the COP31 process.
The Zero Waste Foundation also contributes to strengthening collaborations between the public, private sector, international organizations, and civil society, in line with the approach put forward by the globally growing Zero Waste Movement under the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, Chairperson of the United Nations Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste and Honorary Chairperson of the Zero Waste Foundation.
Circular Economy as One of the Key Topics of the COP31 Agenda
At the meeting in Istanbul, the policies and practices needed to use resources more efficiently and transition economic systems to a circular structure were discussed. Topics such as innovative models that can accelerate the transformation of the business world, as well as financing mechanisms, technology, and the restructuring of value chains, were evaluated.
Tom Delrue (Head of the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Türkiye)
"In the process leading up to COP31, the climate agenda has moved beyond commitments to the stage of implementation and delivering results. The circular economy provides a powerful approach that can collectively respond to interconnected global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Türkiye can play a significant role in this transformation with its industrial infrastructure, innovation capacity, and Zero Waste experience."
Christian Mensah (Senior Advisor and Team Leader to the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion)
"The active participation of different actors in the process is of great importance for the success of climate action. The solutions and proposals put forward by the private sector will provide valuable contributions to strengthening the COP31 process with concrete outcomes."
Melda Çele (Secretary General of UN Global Compact Network Türkiye)
"COP31 is not only a platform where intergovernmental negotiations are conducted but also an important opportunity for the business world to demonstrate its transformation capacity. The results obtained from the private sector consultations will carry the perspective of the business world more strongly into the COP31 process."
Business World Developed Solution Proposals Together
In the working sessions of the meeting, companies that are members of UN Global Compact Türkiye, business organizations, and representatives of organizations operating within the UN Türkiye ecosystem came together.
In the working groups, topics such as circular business models, transformation of value chains, waste management and resource recovery, green technologies, digital solutions, and financing and policy mechanisms were evaluated.
Participants put forward proposals aimed at developing solutions that can be scaled across sectors and value chains, going beyond the practices companies carry out in their own fields of activity. Thus, it was aimed that the private sector's contribution to climate action would not be limited solely to voluntary commitments, but would be supported by concrete business models and partnerships that will accelerate the transformation.
Multi-Stakeholder Cooperation on the Road to COP31
The proposals that emerge during the consultation process are expected to contribute to the private sector's voluntary commitments and thematic outputs within the scope of COP31. At the same time, it aims to disseminate successful practices in the field of the circular economy across different sectors and geographies, strengthen international collaborations, and scale actionable solutions.
This approach contributes to addressing climate action during the COP31 process not only through targets but also through practices that transform production and consumption patterns, increase resource efficiency, and make economic systems more resilient.
The COP31 High-Level Climate Champion Private Sector Consultations Series will continue with the third meeting to be held in October. In the third gathering of the series, the private sector's contributions to climate action will be discussed under the headings of nature conservation, biodiversity, water management, just transition, and sustainable value chains.
