
UN Chief’s call to action on zero waste and Turkey’s leadership
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the significance of breaking the harmful waste cycle in a video message during an event honoring the International Day of Zero Waste at the UN headquarters, asking the global community to take action. “Our planet is drowning under a torrent of trash,” he stated, expressing his thanks to Türkiye and first lady Emine Erdoğan for their vision and leadership, stressing that in addition to the recognized effects, this condition results in sickness and death.
UN Chief’s call to action
The UN Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste vice-chair Jose Manuel Moller called Turkey’s stance on the matter “inspiring.” Moller, the CEO and creator of Algramo, a Chilean start-up that is revolutionizing reusable packaging, commended Türkiye for starting the initiative in an interview with Anadolu Agency. Turkey is a country that is making an effort and it is setting the standard for demonstrating that everything is possible and that everyone can achieve it. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan collaborated to launch the Zero Waste project last year on a global scale. First Lady Emine Erdogan led the initiative in her country in 2017. Erdogan this week signed a Global Zero Waste goodwill proclamation in New York, outside of the 78th UN General Assembly.
The president’s wife led a signing ceremony as part of the “Path To Global Zero Waste Movement” event at the Turkish House diplomatic center. In support of First Lady Emine Erdogan’s Global Zero Waste Movement, President Erdogan became the first volunteer with zero waste when he signed the Global Zero Waste Goodwill Declaration, which was made accessible for individual participation on its website.
Türkiye’s leading role in waste management
The proclamation acknowledges the significance of trash reduction, recycling, and other actions that are in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. “We pledge to promote the zero waste approach worldwide and share best practices for its wider recognition and application,” it stated. The First Lady and the president of the UN signed the proclamation of goodwill, and it has since been approved by the wives of about thirty heads of state, including those from France, South Korea, Paraguay, and Cuba.
The UN General Assembly declared March 30 to be the International Day of Zero Waste, to be commemorated yearly starting in 2023, in an effort to publicly recognize the significance of zero-waste projects. The first lady of Turkey was commended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in March of this year for accepting to serve as head of the Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste. The board convened online for the first time in July with the goal of spreading best practices and success stories in the field of zero waste and increasing awareness globally.
Challenges and opportunities in waste reduction
On November 1, the Board members will meet in person for the first time in Istanbul. Sedat Onal, the permanent representative of Turkey to the United Nations, also spoke at the event. He emphasized Turkey’s proactive role in promoting sustainable models of consumption and production and raised awareness about zero waste initiatives through the Zero Waste Project, which was started in 2017 under Erdoğan’s direction. “Embracing the principles of zero waste is our responsibility for the future generations,” Noronha said. She continued, “There is no time to waste in the implementation of the zero-waste vision. The General Assembly decided to approve a resolution proposed by the Republic of Türkiye designating March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste due to its remarkable achievement.
The role of international cooperation
By no means does the path to zero waste consist of a straightforward unplanned endpoint, but rather a constant process of invention, learning, and adaptation. U.N. Habitat’s deputy executive director, Michal Mlynar, emphasized Turkey’s innovative role in relation to the General Assembly’s adoption of the U.N. Zero Waste Resolution. “Zero Waste Day brings together stakeholders from all sectors to raise awareness about zero waste at national, regional and local levels and to promote zero-waste initiatives that contribute to sustainable development,” he stated. He added, “It is a great example of how multilateralism promoted in Our Common Agenda should look like.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lisa emphasized that everyone should be concerned about zero waste, noting that “leaders will follow when youth and communities are allowed to lead.” Numerous diplomats, ambassadors, members of civil society groups, journalists, and Dennis Francis, the president of the 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly, were there.