Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, made critical contacts regarding the COP31 process and participated in sessions at the G7 summit in Paris, the capital of France.
Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, held critical bilateral meetings with high-level figures throughout the day within the scope of the G7 meetings held in Paris on May 4. During the meetings, concrete areas of cooperation for the COP31 process were discussed under the headings of zero waste, the circular economy, methane emission reduction, and climate finance. Participating as a speaker in the meetings organized within the G7, Ağırbaş also met with former French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius.
Cooperation Opportunities for the COP31 Process Evaluated with Germany
In his meeting with Dr. Heike Henn, Director General for International Climate Action at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Ağırbaş evaluated the integration of zero waste and circular economy solutions into the COP31 process.
In his assessment of the meeting, Ağırbaş said, "We shared the critical role that zero waste and circular economy solutions will play in the COP31 process. We evaluated the cooperation opportunities we will pursue in strengthening the Climate Action Agenda and making communities and non-governmental organizations on the ground more visible."
Integration of Academic Networks into the COP31 Process
In the meeting with Prof. Emily Shuckburgh, Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Director of Cambridge Zero, bringing climate science together with social impact and integrating academic networks into the COP31 process were discussed.
Ağırbaş assessed, "We shared the efforts we are carrying out within the framework of Climate Action and our evaluations regarding the COP31 process. We particularly evaluated strategic cooperation opportunities regarding the contributions universities can offer to our climate action projects and the strengthening of circular economy solutions with scientific foundations. We continue to evaluate steps and common working grounds that will strengthen our zero waste vision on international platforms."
COP31 Priorities Discussed with the European Climate Foundation
In the meeting held with Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, the course of global climate policies in the post-Paris Agreement period and COP31 priorities were evaluated.
Emphasizing the importance of cooperation, Ağırbaş said, "By sharing our zero waste, circular economy, and Action Agenda priorities on the road to COP31; we discussed the contributions that the philanthropy sector and academic networks can offer to our solution-oriented projects. We are determined to carry our Zero Waste vision, which we put forward under the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, to the international level and to strengthen our solution-oriented partnerships."
Evaluating emission reduction strategies with Marcelo Mena, CEO of the Global Methane Hub, Ağırbaş said, "Within the framework of our COP31 roadmap, we touched upon our priorities regarding the dissemination of climate awareness as well as technical solutions for methane emissions. We continue to act in a unity of vision with our international stakeholders and take effective steps for our common home, the Earth."
"The Greatest Priority at COP31 is to Protect Food and the Environment"
Delivering a speech focusing on the zero waste vision at the Methane Production from Waste Meeting held within the G7, Ağırbaş said, "We see preventing the damage caused by waste and food losses to the world as our most important duty for a better life. Therefore, we have made protecting our food and our environment our greatest priority at COP31. Our zero waste approach is not just an end-of-pipe management; it is an inclusive execution mechanism that extends from preventing food waste to redesigning the system."
Coming together with Benoit Faraco, Climate and Environment Advisor to the French Presidency, Ağırbaş stated, "In our meeting, we discussed our strategic preparations on the road to COP31 and the place of our zero waste vision in international climate policies. We continue to strengthen our solution-oriented diplomatic contacts and grounds for cooperation for our common home, the Earth."
The Bridge Between the Climate Agenda and Daily Life Evaluated at COP31
Ağırbaş later delivered the closing speech at the "Road to the Future" session held as part of the G7. Ağırbaş used the expressions, "We emphasized our will to act as a bridge between the international climate agenda and daily life on the road to COP31. Drawing attention to the impacts of the climate crisis on vulnerable groups such as the refugee population; we stated that the green transformation is not only a necessity but a strong economic choice. By combining the projects we carry out from energy to food security on an international scale, we are determined to turn promises into real change."
COP31 Consultation with NGOs in France
Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, attended the Turkish Non-Governmental Organizations Meeting in France following the G7 programs and bilateral meetings in Paris.
At the meeting, the efforts carried out on the road to COP31 and the social participation pillar of the zero waste vision were consulted. Ağırbaş said, "We continue to unite the power of civil society for the future of our common home, the Earth, and to strengthen our international solution partnerships."
This intense diplomacy traffic carried out by Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, who continues his work under the vision and auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, Founder of the Zero Waste Movement, Chair of the United Nations Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste, and Honorary President of the Zero Waste Foundation, created a strong ground for international cooperation regarding the COP31 process.
During the meetings; topics such as the global expansion of zero waste and circular economy solutions, the reduction of methane emissions from waste and food, the strengthening of climate finance, and the more effective role of academia, local governments, and international organizations were brought to the agenda.
