Preparing to host one of the most comprehensive gatherings of environmental and climate diplomacy ahead of the COP31 process, Istanbul will welcome over 100 ministers and high-level decision-makers from around the world at the Zero Waste Forum to be held at Atatürk Airport on June 5–7.
Organized by the Zero Waste Foundation with the theme "Road to Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Action," the forum stands out as one of the most critical international platforms ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP31) to be held in Türkiye, in terms of participation level, content scope, and representational power.
A Strategic Gathering on a Global Scale
Expected to bring together participants from over 150 countries, more than 500 corporate stakeholders, and over 5,000 international guests, the forum will unite governments, international organizations, academia, the private sector, and civil society representatives on the same ground. In this respect, the organization is not merely a conference but a multi-stakeholder decision-making platform where global environmental policies are shaped.
The Zero Waste Movement Guides Global Policies
Launched in 2017 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 Zero Waste Movement has rapidly gone beyond a national practice to become a globally exemplary model. With the United Nations General Assembly declaring March 30 as "International Day of Zero Waste," this approach has become one of the key components of global climate negotiations.
The forum in Istanbul aims to carry this accumulation further by bringing together a wide network of stakeholders ranging from public institutions to local governments, from financial institutions to international organizations, towards common goals.
"We Will Present Concrete Outputs to COP31"
Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, drew attention to the strategic importance of the forum, emphasizing that the zero waste approach must be made an integral part of climate action.
Stating that the gathering in Istanbul will not merely be a platform where problems are discussed, Ağırbaş said, "Our goal is to make a strong contribution to the COP31 process by developing measurable, applicable, and concrete policy proposals."
Critical Agenda at the Ministerial Level
As part of the forum, high-level sessions will be held with the participation of ministers responsible for environment, climate, energy, and sustainability from more than 100 countries. In these sessions, concrete policy proposals will be discussed under topics such as:
• Circular economy policies
• Combating plastic pollution
• Harmonization of global standards in waste management
• Climate finance and green investments
• Capacity building for developing countries
Intense Three-Day Program
Different dimensions of the zero waste approach will be comprehensively evaluated in simultaneous panels and sessions to be held during the forum. Prominent topics in the program include:
• Prevention of food waste
• Organic waste management and reduction of methane emissions
• Financing the circular economy
• Zero waste practices in cities
• Combating plastic pollution
• Reuse and repair systems
• Waste prevention in energy systems
• Circular transformation in the textile sector
Furthermore, technical topics such as electronic waste management, construction and demolition waste, packaging systems, and industrial transformation will also be detailed within the scope of the forum.
Youth Will Be Actors in the Process
The active participation of youth in climate policies will be supported through a special Youth Session to be held during the forum. Innovative solution proposals and entrepreneurial approaches will be directly brought together with international stakeholders, thereby strengthening the role of youth in policy-making processes.
A Critical Threshold Before COP31
The forum in Istanbul will provide an important preparatory ground for countries to clarify their positions ahead of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Antalya on November 9–20, 2026.
In particular, the topics of:
• Strengthening Nationally Determined Contributions
• The role of the waste sector in carbon reduction
• Climate action plans of cities and universities
• Integration of zero waste policies into climate strategies
are expected to contribute directly to the global negotiation processes.
The Most Comprehensive Zero Waste Platform
Expected to be one of the most comprehensive zero waste organizations in the world in terms of participant diversity and content depth, the forum will feature ministerial sessions, best practice presentations, youth meetings, private sector panels, and large-scale exhibition areas.
In the exhibition areas, circular production models, upcycling technologies, and sustainable design solutions will be presented to international participants.
Istanbul on the Stage of Global Climate Diplomacy
With its strategic location connecting continents, Istanbul will this time be at the center of global environmental policies. The extensive infrastructure of Atatürk Airport has been prepared to host a multi-dimensional organization that will involve thousands of participants.
The Zero Waste Forum will go beyond being a meeting that seeks solutions to existing problems; it will offer a strong platform where new collaborations, financial mechanisms, and international policy partnerships will be shaped.
The Key to Global Transformation: Zero Waste
The primary goal of the forum stands out as accelerating systemic transformation, starting from production and consumption habits, and placing the zero waste approach at the center of climate action.
This major gathering to be held in Istanbul on June 5–7 aims to produce concrete outputs that will shape the global environmental and climate agenda ahead of COP31. The world is preparing to convene in Istanbul for one of the most critical meetings in climate diplomacy.
