Miami: An Istanbul-based environmental foundation, with Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan as its honorary president, has developed a framework document for the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) set to be chaired and hosted by Trkiye in 2026.
According to Anadolu Agency, the document created by the Zero Waste Foundation is focused on reducing carbon emissions, optimizing resource use, and making environmental performance measurable for all stakeholders.
The Sustainable COP31 Framework offers a globally aligned roadmap that encompasses zero-waste management protocols, strategies for carbon reduction and offsetting, sustainable logistics and transport planning, environmental standards for venues, and mechanisms for stakeholder engagement and transparency. The Zero Waste Foundation is actively building a multi-stakeholder preparation ecosystem across Trkiye, emphasizing that preparations for COP31 should extend beyond technical infrastructure alone.
The foundation is conducting policy development work with universities and research centers, collaborating with local administrations on sustainable city practices, and exchanging views with businesses on production models. This collaborative effort aims to accelerate the private sector's transition to low-carbon practices and raise social awareness. In a statement, Zero Waste Foundation President Samed Agirbas highlighted that the zero-waste vision is now recognized globally as a concrete, measurable, and applicable solution model in combating climate change. Agirbas emphasized that COP31 presents a historic opportunity to promote this approach to the international community in a more powerful way.
At the UN General Assembly in December 2022, a "Zero Waste" resolution led by Trkiye and co-sponsored by 105 countries was adopted, proclaiming March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste. First lady Erdogan delivered the keynote address at its first observance at the UN General Assembly Hall on March 30, 2023. During the event, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the establishment of the "Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste," offering the role of chair to the Turkish first lady, which she accepted.
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, meeting annually since 1995 to assess progress and negotiate climate change action. The 31st session (COP31) is scheduled to take place in Trkiye from November 9-20, 2026, primarily in Antalya, with the Leaders' Summit to be held in Istanbul. Nearly 200 countries are expected to convene in Trkiye to discuss the next phase of Paris Agreement implementation, including new and updated emission-reduction targets, adaptation measures, climate finance, and the implementation of carbon-market rules. Trkiye is applying its diplomatic experience from recent global crises to climate diplomacy through COP31.