Founder of the Zero Waste Movement, Chairperson of the United Nations Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste, and Honorary Chairperson of the Zero Waste Foundation, First Lady Emine Erdoğan spoke at the opening event of New York Climate Week, where the Zero Waste Foundation is among the main partners. First Lady Emine Erdoğan emphasized that the Zero Waste movement has transformed the individual from a helpless observer to the main actor in finding solutions to the climate crisis.
New York Climate Week, one of the world’s leading gatherings on the climate agenda, hosts global quests for combating climate change, as well as developing efficient resource use, a circular economy, and a sustainable culture of life.
Organized by the Climate Group in New York from September 20–27, 2026, Climate Week brings together actors from various sectors around the world in the fields of climate, economy, and sustainability concurrently with the United Nations General Assembly.
During the Opening Ceremony held on September 21, in the week where the Zero Waste Foundation is among the main partners, topics related to efficient resource use, sustainable production and consumption models, and the global climate agenda were discussed.
Zero Waste and Climate Action on the Road to COP31
Evaluating the global journey of the Zero Waste Movement and its role in climate action during the opening event, First Lady Emine Erdoğan stated that the Zero Waste approach is not merely a model for managing waste; it is a comprehensive understanding of transformation that requires a rethinking of production and consumption patterns.
Upon arriving at the event venue, First Lady Emine Erdoğan was welcomed by Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, Zero Waste Foundation President and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion Samed Ağırbaş, Climate Group CEO Helen Clarkson, Senior Board Member Emma Cox, and other officials.
Drawing attention to the importance of climate action in building a shared future at the Opening Ceremony, First Lady Emine Erdoğan noted that climate change is one of the most visible consequences of the heavy burden human activities leave on the Earth, stating that the solution lies not only in transforming existing systems but also in rethinking individual and social habits.
"Combating the Climate Crisis Requires Questioning Our Consumption Habits"
Pointing out that the climate crisis cannot be evaluated solely under the headings of energy and emissions, First Lady Emine Erdoğan stated that humanity's production and consumption habits are also crucial parts of this process.
"Is it only fossil fuels that have brought us face-to-face with such a massive crisis? Is it giant industries? Or is it a boundless demand for consumption that constantly forces all of these to produce more?"
"We Must Rebuild Our Relationship with Nature Upon Measure and Justice"
Stating that out of approximately 9.2 billion tons of plastic produced globally since the 1950s, 7 billion tons have turned into waste, demonstrating the burden created by the current production and consumption mentality, First Lady Emine Erdoğan noted that environmental costs are not fairly distributed across the globe.
"Therefore, we must begin by reducing the excesses in our habits alongside our waste, changing our mindset along with our systems. We must rebuild our relationship with nature upon measure and justice."
"Zero Waste is the Translation of a Sense of Trusteeship into Daily Life"
Pointing out that there is a fundamental difference in mindset between viewing nature as an infinite resource depot and seeing it as a shared asset entrusted to future generations, First Lady Emine Erdoğan said the movement offers an approach that reminds us of boundaries, responsibility, and the consciousness of trusteeship in an era where consumption and squander have been normalized.
"Zero waste is the translation of this sense of trusteeship into daily life."
"It Made the Individual the Main Actor of the Solution"
Stating that Zero Waste practices were initiated at the Presidential complex in 2017 and quickly spread to a wide area—from schools to hospitals, municipalities to public institutions, and households—First Lady Emine Erdoğan noted that Türkiye's recycling rate rose from 13 percent to over 37 percent.
Emphasizing that this transformation cannot be explained solely by numerical indicators, First Lady Emine Erdoğan stated that the real achievement is people realizing they can be not just subjects of change, but agents of it, saying, "The Zero Waste movement has transformed the individual from a helpless observer in the face of the climate crisis into the main actor of the solution."
Expressing the need to establish infrastructures that make it easier for people to make the right choices, to design products that are longer-lasting, repairable, and reusable, to develop technologies that enable circular production, and to strengthen international collaborations, First Lady Emine Erdoğan noted that the journey of the Zero Waste movement from local to global is of great importance in this regard.
Zero Waste as a Part of Global Climate Action
Drawing attention to the fact that the Zero Waste approach is increasingly resonating in the international arena, First Lady Emine Erdoğan recalled the Zero Waste resolution adopted at the UN General Assembly in 2022 and the declaration of March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste.
First Lady Emine Erdoğan also touched upon the activities of the United Nations Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste, which she chairs, stating that the zero waste approach has become one of the essential tools of global climate action. Pointing to the COP31 process to be hosted by Türkiye, she emphasized the importance of integrating the Zero Waste approach more strongly with climate action.
"No Target Alone is Sufficient, No Technology Alone Will Be the Solution"
"While I make this speech, tens of tons of waste have been produced in New York. The situation is no different in Istanbul, nor in many cities across the world. As long as we continue the habits that produce today's problems while discussing tomorrow's solutions, no target alone will be sufficient; no technology alone will be the solution."
Multi-Stakeholder Support for Global Climate Action
New York Climate Week stands out as an important international gathering where different dimensions of the global climate agenda are discussed ahead of COP31, which will be hosted by Türkiye in Antalya. Within the scope of the week, where the Zero Waste Foundation is among the main partners, multi-stakeholder efforts aimed at popularizing climate action, resource efficiency, the circular economy, sustainable production and consumption, and the zero waste approach on a global scale are evaluated.
The organization's official program features over 1,000 events, activations, and participation opportunities, bringing together actors working in the field of climate from the public sector, the business world, and civil society throughout the week. The event was also supported by contributions from VakıfBank and Türk Telekom.
After her speech, First Lady Emine Erdoğan watched a live performance by contemporary marbling (ebru) artist Garip Ay. Conversing with Ay, First Lady Emine Erdoğan took to the marbling tray and contributed to the performance. The program was attended by editors-in-chief of newspapers and televisions and many invited guests.
