Türkiye's environmental diplomacy and sustainable development vision are moving to a new stage with the active participation of youth. In line with the zero waste vision growing 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, a new cooperation process encompassing comprehensive environmental and youth projects has been officially launched between the Zero Waste Foundation and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The cooperation, shaped within the scope of the preparations for COP31 to be hosted by Türkiye on November 9–20, 2026, aims to increase the direct participation of youth in climate policies, popularize a sustainable lifestyle culture, and create a new volunteer-based social movement in the environmental field.
Strategic Youth Move Ahead of COP31
The introductory meeting, hosted by the Zero Waste Foundation on May 21, 2026, was attended by Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, and Osman Aşkın Bak, Minister of Youth and Sports. At the meeting, versatile projects that will place youth at the center of environmental policies were introduced to the public, while the youth-oriented transformation vision in the COP31 process was emphasized.
"We Are Starting a New Process with Our Ministry of Youth and Sports"
Delivering the opening speech of the program, Samed Ağırbaş stated that a new transformation process has been initiated in the environmental field with the vision of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, and used the following expressions:
"In all the meetings we attend, we reiterate our call for global justice initiated under the leadership of our President. As the youth of Türkiye, as the children of this nation, we owe a debt to this world. Today, we are starting a new process with our Ministry of Youth and Sports. Our Ministry of Youth and Sports is a powerful ministry that has accomplished successful works in Türkiye, manages dormitories, provides scholarships, and carries out important works for youth. Our Minister is someone who comes from within youth works and sports. With the projects we introduced today, we will prepare strongly together with the youth of Türkiye for both COP31 and the post-COP31 process."
"Transformation of the System is Impossible Without the Transformation of Generations"
Emphasizing that the climate crisis has now turned into a global environmental disaster, Ağırbaş stated that social transformation would not be possible without the participation of youth:
"If we want to make the zero waste culture prevail in these lands, we must walk shoulder to shoulder with children, youth, and women in this process. Tomorrow, when the air of the cities we live in gets polluted, when the sea water gets polluted, all the people living in that city will pay the bill for it. Today, we swallow 5 grams of microplastics per person weekly. According to United Nations data, we are talking about a new continent in the oceans; the plastic continent. We have to change this system with the solution proposals and innovative technologies we will introduce. We don't have a single minute to lose."
A New Environmental Leadership Model for Youth
Samed Ağırbaş said that with the zero waste workshops to be established in youth centers, young people will be trained not only at the awareness level but as implementing and educating leaders:
"Our goal is to produce behavioral change. Our goal is to elevate youth to the position of implementing and educating leaders. As the twig is bent, so grows the tree. Today, we are planting the seed of a new work, and we believe we will reap the fruits of this together in the upcoming period."
Ağırbaş also noted that the ideas of youth in the fields of environment and climate will be supported, adding, "If you have an idea about Türkiye, the world, or zero waste, we as the Zero Waste Foundation are always ready to be companions with the youth."
"We Are Expanding the Zero Waste Vision with the Energy of Youth"
In his speech, Osman Aşkın Bak said that they are experiencing the excitement of expanding the zero waste vision, carried out under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, with the energy of youth.
Minister Bak stated that they reach millions of young people through youth centers, dormitories, and camps, making the following evaluation:
"Youth are very precious. The unifying and healing power of sports is very important. Within the framework of the protocol we signed with the Zero Waste Foundation, we are carrying out activities in our dormitories, which accommodate 1 million of our students. We are together with youth in youth centers and youth camps all over Türkiye."
"We Are One of the Ministries Implementing the Zero Waste Project Best"
Expressing that everyone has a shared responsibility concerning the environment, Osman Aşkın Bak noted that youth are quite conscious about environmental awareness and said:
"We must manage the resources of this world correctly. We must protect our environment. For this, we must manage waste well. We are one of the ministries that best implement the Zero Waste Project initiated by First Lady Emine Erdoğan. We aim to transform it into an international climate movement that centers on the energy of youth and the power of volunteering."
A Broad Structure Ranging from Universities to Youth Camps
Within the scope of the cooperation, a comprehensive youth ecosystem will be established under the headings "Zero Waste Youth Volunteers," "Zero Waste Youth Centers," and "Zero Waste Thematic Camps." Thanks to the structure extending from universities to youth centers, and from volunteering networks to camp programs, it is aimed for youth to take an active role in environment-oriented projects.
Within the scope of the projects, it is aimed for young people not only to gain environmental awareness but to gain direct experience in the fields of environmental leadership, social responsibility, sustainable production-consumption habits, and volunteering.
Youth Will Be in the Field During the COP31 Process
Under the collaboration, training programs, applied workshops, field events, and volunteering activities will be implemented. University students, youth leaders, volunteer communities, scouts, and education faculty students will take active roles in environment-oriented works.
It is aimed to spread eco-friendly practices such as recycling, upcycling, reuse, and sharing culture through volunteering networks to be established on a local scale. In addition, nature consciousness, environmental responsibility, and sustainable lifestyle culture will be transferred to youth in an experience-oriented manner through practical training held in thematic youth camps.
Türkiye's Climate Diplomacy is Strengthened with the Energy of Youth
The prepared projects are expected to make Türkiye's youth and climate-centered vision more visible at national and international levels during the COP31 process. With the direct inclusion of youth in environmental transformation processes, it is aimed to create long-term social impact areas that will contribute to sustainable development goals.
This comprehensive process to be carried out in cooperation with the Zero Waste Foundation and the Ministry of Youth and Sports is evaluated as an important step that brings Türkiye's strong vision in the field of environment and climate together with the energy of youth, while also making strategic contributions to the social transformation goals of the zero waste movement growing under the pioneering of First Lady Emine Erdoğan.
