At the Zero Waste Forum organized under the 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; the role of cities in climate action, the sustainable future vision of youth, food losses, and circular economy topics were discussed.
At the Forum, which brought together public institutions, international organizations, local governments, academia, the private sector, and civil society representatives, solution proposals and partnership models that will contribute to the COP31 process were evaluated.
Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, participated in the sessions held throughout the day and held meetings with international representatives.
The Transformative Role of Cities in the COP31 Process Discussed
In the "Cities Day" sessions held within the scope of the Forum, the critical role undertaken by cities in combating climate change was evaluated.
In the sessions opened by Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion; the transformation capacity of cities in line with resource utilization, waste management, infrastructure planning, and sustainable development goals was addressed.
Pointing out that cities are the most important implementation areas of climate action ahead of the COP31 Antalya process, it was emphasized that circular economy models should be integrated into city administrations, resource efficiency should be increased, and zero waste targets should be supported with local policies.
Drawing attention to the fact that cities are not only areas affected by the climate crisis but also centers where solutions are produced, it was stated in the sessions that implementable models at the city scale are of great importance for global transformation.
Youth as Active Stakeholders in Global Climate Action
The Youth Session held on the second day of the Zero Waste Forum focused on the role of youth in combating climate change and sustainable development.
Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Osman Aşkın Bak, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion Samed Ağırbaş, COP31 Youth Envoy Sally Higgins, UNICEF Türkiye Representative Paolo Marchi, and President of the Youth Diplomacy Association Selman Bilir took part as speakers in the session.
Samed Ağırbaş stated that the Zero Waste Forum brought together participants from 183 countries and more than 5,000 people, expressing that the main goal of the movement is to build a fairer, more livable, and sustainable world.
Drawing attention to inequalities in the world and problems experienced in access to resources, Ağırbaş emphasized that youth must be at the center of solution processes.
Ağırbaş made the evaluation, "If we work together as the peoples of the world around a common idea and common benefit, it is possible for us to build a fairer world."
Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Osman Aşkın Bak, touching upon the importance of youth in environmental and social responsibility works, drew attention to the practices supporting the sustainability efforts of youth in Türkiye.
Bak expressed that the Zero Waste Movement gaining an institutional structure is an important step in terms of the global environmental agenda.
Call for Stronger Cooperation for Global Climate Action
In the "Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action" session held within the scope of the Forum, the importance of multi-stakeholder collaborations in combating climate change was addressed.
Samed Ağırbaş stated that in solving the climate crisis, academia, the private sector, civil society, and cities must act together alongside states.
Drawing attention to the fact that the Istanbul Platform can be an important mechanism in terms of international climate governance, Ağırbaş emphasized the importance of benefiting from the knowledge and experiences of past climate leaders.
Expressing that children, youth, and women must be at the center of climate policies, Ağırbaş said that the Zero Waste Foundation will continue to strengthen global partnerships.
Food Security and Combating Waste at the Center of the Agenda
In the Session of Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry held on the second day of the Forum, the issue of food losses, post-harvest processes, and efficiency in food supply chains was addressed.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı chaired the session held under the title "Reducing Post-Harvest Losses – Increasing Efficiency in the Food Supply Chain".
Drawing attention to the fact that a significant portion of the food produced worldwide is lost before reaching the tables, it was emphasized in the session that food waste is a global problem with not only economic but also environmental and humanitarian consequences.
Minister Yumaklı stated that the zero waste understanding is a comprehensive approach that protects resources, centers on life, and supports sustainable production models.
Expressing that Türkiye is carrying out efforts to reduce losses in all processes from farm to fork, Yumaklı drew attention to the importance of the zero waste and circular economy approach during the COP31 process.
New Approaches for Repair Culture and Circular Economy
In the session titled "Right to Repair for a Zero Waste Future," reuse, extending product life, and circular economy models were evaluated.
Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler stated that sustainable systems are possible with the effective use of resources, institutional collaborations, and long-term planning.
Expressing that the zero waste approach is a strategic transformation model that creates economic value as well as environmental benefits, Güler drew attention to the importance of institutions strengthening their environmental responsibilities.
Cities Become the Pioneers of Zero Waste Transformation
In the panel "City Action Guide: Municipal Tools That Truly Contribute to the Zero Waste Goal" held on the second day of the Forum, the role of local governments in zero waste goals was addressed.
In the session where policy development, infrastructure investments, implementation models, and measurable results were evaluated, the pioneering role of cities in sustainable transformation was emphasized.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gül drew attention to the importance of municipalities transforming zero waste goals into concrete implementations, expressing that coordinated efforts and joint policy production are the fundamental elements of success.
Global Solution Platform in the Process Leading to COP31
The Zero Waste Forum, which has become the international meeting point of the Zero Waste Movement growing under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, strengthened joint solution pursuits in combating climate change on its second day as well.
The sessions held in a wide range from cities to youth, and from food systems to the circular economy, created an important platform contributing to the sustainability vision Türkiye put forward during the COP31 Antalya process.
By bringing representatives from different countries together around common goals, the Forum continues to strengthen global cooperation for a cleaner, fairer, and more sustainable future.
