In the process of the Conference of the Parties (COP), the highest-level platform where the world's climate future is shaped under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Zero Waste Foundation President Samed Ağırbaş gave important messages in his statement following his appointment as the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion.
Zero Waste Foundation President Samed Ağırbaş, continuing his work in line with the vision and leadership of the Chairperson of the UN Advisory Board on Zero Waste and Honorary President of the Zero Waste Foundation, First Lady Emine Erdoğan, made a statement regarding his appointment as the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion announced by the Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Murat Kurum. He defined the COP31 process not just as a summit calendar, but as a global transformation march carrying high responsibility, using the following expressions:
“Our COP31 journey is the beginning of a march with great responsibility and a clear goal. We will expand the climate struggle with steps whose impact is measurable.”
“A Great Honor on My Behalf”
Emphasizing that the COP process is the largest summit where the world's climate route is drawn, Ağırbaş expressed that the duty of High-Level Climate Champion is a great honor:
“In the COP process, which is the largest summit under the United Nations umbrella where the world's climate route is drawn; undertaking the duty of ‘High-Level Climate Champion’, which carries the diplomatic decisions at the table to the reality of the field and concrete collaborations, is a great honor on my behalf.”
“The Real Power Lies in Realizing the Signatures at the Table”
Emphasizing that the role of High-Level Climate Champion, which has a critical role in the implementation of decisions taken during the COP process, establishes a strong bond between global climate diplomacy and real applications, Ağırbaş noted the following:
“In the ongoing climate diplomacy for years, we have always observed this: The signatures signed at the table are very valuable, but the real power to heal the world lies in bringing those signatures to life. This is exactly our new mission: To build an unshakable bridge between the high goals of governments and the energy of the street, industry, universities, and youth. We are now in a period where we focus on the question ‘what should we do?’.”
Zero Waste Vision: The Strong Compass of the Global Climate Struggle
Ağırbaş emphasized that the Zero Waste Movement, spreading from Türkiye to the world, is the strongest guide in the COP31 process, and opened a special parenthesis for the architect of this vision, Chairperson of the UN Advisory Board on Zero Waste and Honorary President of the Zero Waste Foundation, First Lady Emine Erdoğan:
“The strongest compass in this process is undoubtedly the ‘Zero Waste’ model spreading from Türkiye to the world as a movement of kindness. This vision, sprouting under the auspices of our Zero Waste Foundation Honorary President, First Lady Emine Erdoğan, has gone far beyond being just an environmental project today; it has become the most effective prescription for the global climate crisis and a culture of life.”
Global Mobilization with the Zero Waste Forum
Stating that a comprehensive mobilization will be launched especially under the roof of the Zero Waste Forum in the upcoming period, Ağırbaş made the following assessments:
“In the upcoming period, we will come together with all stakeholders from local governments to international companies, from civil society to the financial world, especially under the roof of the Zero Waste Forum. Our goal is not only to manage waste; but to redesign production, consumption, and living habits with a ‘circular’ understanding. We believe that COP31 will be a turning point where concrete success stories are written.”
“Time to Turn Words into Action, Commitments into Concrete Successes”
Ağırbaş concluded his statement with this strong message:
“With the spirit of global mobilization, we will expand this struggle without leaving anyone behind. It is time; to turn words into action, intention into movement, and commitments into concrete successes. For a fairer, greener, and waste-free world...”
High-Level Climate Champion
The High-Level Climate Champion was established within the scope of the United Nations Climate Conference (COP), held in Paris in 2015 and a turning point in global climate negotiations. This mechanism aims to create a strong basis for cooperation between governments and non-state actors to support the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Climate High-Level Champions encourage the implementation of ambitious and concrete climate actions by mobilizing a wide stakeholder ecosystem covering businesses, financial institutions, cities, regions, non-governmental organizations, and local communities.
Champions, serving for two-year terms and handing over the flag from one COP to another, act as a bridge between national governments and non-state actors. These works are carried out in line with a five-year vision to accelerate implementation within the framework of the Global Climate Action Agenda.
