Academics and students discussed Türkiye's climate vision at the ITU COP31 Science Platform Workshop hosted by Istanbul Technical University (ITU). Zero Waste Foundation President and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion Samed Ağırbaş, who attended the workshop, stated, "In our journey as the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, we continue to take steps that place our country's scientific power at the center."
The Zero Waste Foundation and the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion Office came together with the scientific community, one of the most important stakeholders of the process, on the road to the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Antalya.
COP31 High-Level Climate Champion and Zero Waste Foundation President Samed Ağırbaş also attended the workshop hosted by Istanbul Technical University (ITU), where academics and students discussed Türkiye's climate vision.
"We Continue to Take Steps Centered on Our Country's Scientific Power"
Ağırbaş stated, "In our journey as the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, we continue to take steps that place our country's scientific power at the center. We came together with our esteemed professors and young climate ambassadors at the ITU COP31 Science Platform Workshop hosted by Istanbul Technical University (ITU). Together with our Rector, Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, we discussed 'Türkiye's Climate Vision' across a wide spectrum ranging from technology to policy, and from finance to digital climate sciences."
The Importance of Interdisciplinary Scientific Production Was Emphasized
Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Rector of ITU, who hosted the Workshop held on March 11, emphasized interdisciplinary scientific production and said, "As a strategic step that will crown this strong unity with an institutional structure, we are establishing the Zero Waste Institute at our university within the scope of our cooperation with the Zero Waste Foundation; we believe that this structure, which will be at the center of postgraduate research and designed with sustainable architecture, will pioneer the training of new researchers in the fields of climate and sustainability.
On this occasion; I would like to express my gratitude to Zero Waste Foundation President Samed Ağırbaş for being with us and supporting the process, to Prof. Dr. Levent Kuzu, faculty member of our Environmental Engineering Department and Director of UNEP/MAP CC/RAC, for his valuable contributions, and to all our academics and students who contributed to the realization of the workshop."
Science-Based Tangible Outcomes Must Be Produced During the COP31 Process
At the workshop, gathered with the contributions of academics from many different fields, it was evaluated that the COP31 process should be a period where science-based tangible outcomes are produced.
With the workshop, it was also decided to establish the ITU COP31 Science Platform. The ITU COP31 Science Platform aims to handle the research of academics in a way that is compatible with the COP31 thematic headings. Thus, policy notes, technical reports, and thematic working groups regarding climate action will emerge. It is also aimed to evaluate these outputs in international academic publications.
The Importance of Youth Participation in Climate Action Was Highlighted
The workshop, where interdisciplinary contribution stood out, was held with a perspective that also prioritizes the active participation of youth in climate studies.
While the Zero Waste Foundation continues its efforts to spread this movement to all segments of society under the vision and auspices of H.E. Emine Erdoğan, Founder of the Zero Waste Movement, Chair of the UN Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste, and Honorary President of the Foundation; it emphasizes the importance of the active participation of youth in the process.
The COP31 High-Level Climate Champion Office, accelerating its work in this context on the road to COP31, is also holding contacts to ensure the strongest participation of non-state actors, especially the scientific world, in the climate summit to be held for the first time in Türkiye.
