Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, rang the opening bell of the London Stock Exchange during London Climate Action Week, calling out to the global finance world to accelerate climate action.
Ağırbaş emphasized that the Zero Waste approach, which has transformed into a global environmental movement under the pioneering of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, Chair of the United Nations Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste and Honorary President of the Zero Waste Foundation; must be supported with financing, technology, innovation, and circular economy solutions.
The message delivered at the London Stock Exchange revealed that climate action must be positioned not only at the center of environmental policies but also at the center of the global financial system.
Climate Finance and Green Transformation Were on the Agenda in London
Organized with the aim of mobilizing financing resources in the fight against climate change, supporting innovative solutions, and strengthening international collaborations, London Climate Action Week (LCAW) 2026 brought global climate leaders together.
At the London Stock Exchange Market Open Ceremony held during the week, topics of climate finance, sustainable investments, and green transformation came to the fore.
The ceremony was attended by COP31 High-Level Climate Champion and Zero Waste Foundation President Samed Ağırbaş, as well as UK Climate Envoy Rachel Kyte, Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs and COP32 President Gedion Timothewos, and CEO of the Green Finance Institute (GFI) Dr. Rhian-Mari Thomas OBE.
In his speech at the London Stock Exchange Market Open Ceremony, Samed Ağırbaş drew attention to the transformative role of the financial sector in achieving climate goals, ringing the opening bell as a symbolic call for climate action and a sustainable future.
"The World Needs Progress, Not More Promises"
In his speech at the London Stock Exchange, Ağırbaş made evaluations regarding the COP31 process, expressing that climate goals must now be supported by concrete implementations and measurable progress.
Ağırbaş said the following:
"As we move towards COP31, the world doesn't need more promises. What it needs is progress. We must unlock financing resources, accelerate innovation, and place zero waste and circularity at the center of transformation and the mitigation of climate change impacts."
Stating that the fight against climate change is not merely an environmental responsibility but also an economic and social transformation process, Ağırbaş drew attention to the fact that this transformation must be inclusive.
Ağırbaş made the evaluation, "We must ensure that this transition process provides benefits for people, especially women and youth. COP31 is not just a goal, but also a significant opportunity to move to implementation."
Zero Waste Vision Meets Global Stakeholders in London
London Climate Action Week creates a significant global platform to accelerate climate action by bringing together investors, financial institutions, businesses, public representatives, and non-governmental organizations.
In the events held throughout the week under the headings of finance, energy, nature, sustainable development, and climate policies, the importance of collective wisdom and cooperation to achieve global climate goals is addressed.
During the Zero Waste Foundation's contacts in London, the global works carried out in line with the Zero Waste vision put forward by First Lady Emine Erdoğan, the circular economy approach, and the international goals of the Zero Waste Forum are brought to the agenda.
Finance, Technology, and Innovation Are the Fundamental Elements of Climate Solutions
The Zero Waste Foundation draws attention to the fact that financing, technology, innovation, and sustainable living models are complementary elements in the fight against climate change.
The Zero Waste approach stands out as a comprehensive transformation model based not only on managing waste but on re-evaluating the entire life cycle from production to consumption.
The efficient use of resources, popularization of circular economy models, protection of natural assets, and transformation of consumption habits are among the fundamental steps aimed at mitigating the impacts of the climate crisis.
Global Climate Collaborations Strengthen on the Road to COP31
As we move towards the COP31 process, the Zero Waste Foundation continues its efforts on international platforms to strengthen climate finance, popularize the circular economy, and support sustainable development goals.
The message delivered at the London Stock Exchange showed that climate action is no longer merely one of the priority agendas of environmental policies, but also of the global economic system.
It was emphasized that for a more resilient and sustainable future, the finance world, public institutions, private sector, scientific circles, and all segments of society must act in line with common goals.
