In a post on the NSosyal platform on September 27, Emine Erdoğan said that the designation of March 30 as International Zero Waste Day and the establishment of the United Nations Zero Waste High-Level Advisory Board had carried Türkiye’s experience in this field to different regions of the world.
Emine Erdoğan, who chairs the board, said the experience accumulated over nine years would extend to COP31, which will be held in Türkiye. She said the Zero Waste initiative was launched nine years ago to protect soil fertility, the value of water and the balance of nature.
The Zero Waste movement’s nine-year journey
Launched in Türkiye on September 27, 2017, the Zero Waste movement was described as a comprehensive environmental project carried out under Emine Erdoğan’s patronage. The initiative was said to have evolved over nine years from a national program into an international movement formally recognized by the United Nations.
Emine Erdoğan said that a change which began with a single idea had spread from homes to schools, from cities to international platforms. She noted that the zero-waste approach concerned not only what is discarded but also what is valued, and reflected a sense of responsibility touching every area of life.
UN advisory board established in 2023
The United Nations Zero Waste High-Level Advisory Board was established by the UN secretary-general for a three-year term in March 2023 to support local and national initiatives aimed at reducing waste.
The board includes 12 figures from different countries working in waste management. It contributes to the dissemination of best practices and supports United Nations General Assembly Resolution 77/161.
Emine Erdoğan said she hoped the zero-waste approach would be adopted as one of the powerful tools of climate action. Saying that her greatest wish was to leave future generations not only a cleaner world but also a culture of living that respects nature, Emine Erdoğan celebrated the ninth anniversary of the Zero Waste movement.
