Within the scope of the Climate Change Conference held in Bonn, Germany, Türkiye's COP31 vision, zero waste approach, and implementation-oriented climate action understanding were shared with international stakeholders. Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, conveyed Türkiye's priorities on many topics ranging from climate finance to the circular economy, and from the role of cities in climate action to multilateral collaborations, through intense contacts he held throughout the conference.
The Bonn Climate Change Conference, organized within the scope of COP31 preparations, brought together important actors of global climate diplomacy; while the priorities and implementation agenda of the COP31 process, to be hosted by Türkiye in Antalya, were discussed.
The Role of the Zero Waste Forum in the Global Climate Agenda Emphasized
In the meetings in Bonn, the contributions that the common will set forth at the Zero Waste Forum held in Istanbul will provide to the COP31 process were also brought to the agenda.
The Zero Waste Forum, which brought together over 5,000 participants from 183 countries; created a strong ground for global collaborations in the fields of zero waste, circular economy, resource efficiency, sustainable cities, and human-oriented climate solutions.
It is aimed that the proposals developed and the partnerships established within the scope of the Forum will contribute to implementation-oriented climate policies in the process leading to COP31.
"We Evaluated the Road to COP31 and the Future Roadmap of the Zero Waste Movement"
Making evaluations regarding his contacts in Bonn, Samed Ağırbaş expressed that the vision Türkiye put forward during the COP31 process and the Zero Waste Movement growing under the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan were shared with international stakeholders.
Ağırbaş said, "In Bonn, where we came for the June meetings organized by the UN, we evaluated the road to COP31. We explained Türkiye's vision to the world in the meetings led by our Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, and simultaneously our COP31 President, Murat Kurum. While evaluating the Zero Waste Forum on one hand, we also discussed the preparations in the context of COP31 with our stakeholders on the other. We reiterate our President's call for global justice and evaluate the future roadmap of the Zero Waste Movement initiated under the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan."
Climate Action Agenda and New Collaborations Discussed
Within the scope of the Bonn program, Ağırbaş attended the meetings of the High-Level Climate Champions and the Marrakech Partnership, making evaluations regarding the joint Action Agenda that will be shaped in Antalya.
During the meetings; topics such as strengthening implementation-oriented climate solutions, more effective participation of non-state actors in the process, and moving zero waste and circular economy approaches to the center of climate policies were addressed.
Emphasizing that the zero waste vision is a strong transformation model contributing to global climate action, Ağırbaş expressed that efforts towards strengthening international collaborations will continue.
Justice in Climate Finance and the Needs of Vulnerable Countries Were on the Agenda
Within the scope of the contacts in Bonn, climate finance, just transition, and the needs of vulnerable countries were evaluated in the meetings held with the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), the G77 and China Negotiating Group, the Least Developed Countries Group (LDC), and other regional groups.
In the meetings, supporting the countries most affected by the climate crisis, strengthening accessible and fair financing mechanisms, and developing joint approaches during the COP31 process were addressed.
Ağırbaş emphasized that during the COP31 process, the needs of vulnerable geographies must be brought to the agenda more strongly and climate solidarity must be transformed into concrete steps.
COP31 Roadmap Evaluated with the UNFCCC and International Organizations
In his meeting with Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the accompanying delegation, Ağırbaş made evaluations regarding the future of multilateral climate diplomacy within the scope of COP31 preparations.
In the meeting, emission reduction, climate finance, strengthening of international collaborations, and joint action areas to be prioritized during the COP31 process were discussed.
In the meetings held with the European Union delegation, collaborations that can be developed in the fields of circular economy, environmental policies, and climate diplomacy were evaluated.
Cities and Youth at the Center of Climate Action
Participating also in the Daring Cities event organized by the Local Governments for Sustainability Network (ICLEI) within the scope of the Bonn program, Ağırbaş drew attention to the decisive role of local governments in achieving climate goals.
Stating that cities are critical actors in popularizing zero waste and circular economy applications, Ağırbaş expressed that transformations starting at the local level directly contribute to global climate goals.
In the meetings held with youth climate representatives, the effective participation of youth in decision-making processes and the strengthening of their pioneering role in climate action were addressed.
Zero Waste Vision Strengthens with Global Collaborations
The contacts held in Bonn showed that the implementation-oriented climate vision put forward by Türkiye during the COP31 process has resonated in the international arena.
The Zero Waste Movement, growing under the pioneering of First Lady Emine Erdoğan; continues on its path today as an inspiring transformation model on a global scale in the fields of resource efficiency, circular economy, sustainable development, and combating climate change.
The Zero Waste Foundation continues its efforts on a global scale for a more livable, fairer, and sustainable future by developing strong collaborations among the public, private sector, local governments, international organizations, and civil society.
