Antalya:Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and chair of the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste, unveiled the Global Zero Waste Alliance at the COP31 UN Climate Change Conference. The initiative underscores a commitment to turning shared responsibility into enduring cooperation.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, the High-Level Meeting of First Ladies of the Global Zero Waste Alliance took place in Antalya, Trkiye, hosted by Erdogan. She addressed the opening session, emphasizing the importance of transforming knowledge into action. The conference attracted over 100,000 participants from 195 countries, including more than 100 world leaders.
Erdogan highlighted the necessity of moving beyond reports and warnings about climate change, urging for tangible changes in lives, cities, and production methods. She cited the Zero Waste Movement in Trkiye as an example, noting the country's recycling rate increase from 13% to over 37%.
The first lady stressed the significance of preventing waste from being generated, advocating for a development model focused on achieving a higher quality of life with fewer resources. She criticized global production and consumption patterns for their pressure on natural resources and called for the establishment of common standards to ensure corporate responsibility is global.
Erdogan also addressed the environmental impact of conflicts, pointing to the devastation in Gaza and the conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan. She expressed concern over the long-term environmental damage caused by war, highlighting the potential benefits of redirecting military spending to address shared challenges.
The Global Zero Waste Alliance aims to foster cooperation, with Erdogan outlining five priority areas zero waste and the circular economy, plastic and packaging waste, zero-waste zones, food and organic waste, and education and youth. The initiative will operate through structures like the annual Zero Waste Forum and the Istanbul Platform to facilitate collaboration and implementation.
Erdogan called for joint action, encouraging the first ladies to become active stakeholders in the alliance. She expressed hope for new partnerships, joint projects, and measurable progress from the meeting, underscoring the importance of collective efforts for humanity's shared future.