International forum in Istanbul shines global spotlight on urban waste crisis First Zero Waste Forum

Global leaders, ministers, and UN officials convened in Istanbul on October 17 for the International Zero Waste Forum, a three-day event dedicated to advancing sustainable waste management and promoting the Zero Waste Movement as a shared global mission.

The event has been organised in cooperation with the Zero Waste Foundation, Türkiye’s environment and agriculture ministries, and key UN agencies, as reported by Turkish media outlets.

During the forum’s opening session, speakers underscored Türkiye’s leadership in sustainability, international collaboration, and the urgent need for environmentally conscious urban development. Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev was among the presenters on the forum’s first day.

First lady Emine Erdoğan, honorary president of the Zero Waste Foundation established in 2023, delivered the keynote address, calling the event “a historic gathering for the future of humanity.” She said it was a great honour to host the inaugural forum in Istanbul, describing the city as “the meeting point of civilisations and the birthplace of universal environmental awareness.”

Erdoğan criticised global consumerism and what she termed “a culture of artificial happiness.” Citing surveys showing that “85% of people buy more than they need,” she questioned the environmental costs behind mass production—from the water used in manufacturing clothes to the plastics polluting oceans.

“If we knew that producing a single pair of jeans consumes 3,781 litres of water, would we still call it a bargain? If we knew that electronic waste poisons our soil and water, would we rush to buy the newest phone every year?” she asked.

Turning to Türkiye’s achievements, Erdoğan highlighted the success of the Zero Waste Movement launched in 2017. “Our national recycling rate has risen from 13% to 36%. We have recovered 74.5 million tons of waste and contributed TL 256 billion ($6.1 billion) to our economy,” she said, also noting the recovery of “285,000 tons of marine litter.”

Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation, spoke under the theme “Zero Waste Movement: Human, Space, Transformation.” He emphasised the participation of 108 countries and described the initiative as more than an environmental policy — “a philosophy about the essence of life” that calls for changing human behaviour to achieve lasting results.

Babayev, Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and COP29 President, which was held in Baku in 2024, echoed the need for global unity in building a “greener” and more sustainable world. “At COP29, we once again highlighted the importance of effective waste management and emission reduction,” he said, stressing that international cooperation remains vital to meeting environmental goals.

Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of UN-Habitat, also addressed the forum’s opening, emphasising the transformative power of zero waste in shaping sustainable and inclusive cities worldwide.

By Nazrin Sadigova