Following its first online meeting on July 27, the UN Zero Waste Advisory Board, chaired by First Lady Erdoğan, gathered for its 1st official in-person meeting at Vahdettin Mansion.
The meeting was moderated by Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat).
Noting, in her opening remarks, that the climate crisis is no longer a prediction, but has become measurable and observable all over the world, Mrs. Erdoğan said that research has shown that there is a significant link between climate change and the production and consumption habits of modern people.
Stating that more than 2 billion tons of domestic solid waste is produced annually and this figure is expected to double in the near future while limited resources are rapidly depleting, First Lady Erdoğan said that the traces left on the earth by products that are consumed more than needed and left to nature as waste are not taken into account.
First Lady Erdoğan said that while the world was entering a period of “global boiling” due to climate change, as a board, they chose to take action against this trend, and that the Zero Waste Project was the product of such a belief and dream.
“Thanks to the project, we have saved our economy $3.5 billion in 6 years and prevented 4.9 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the removal of more than 1 million vehicles from traffic annually,” First Lady Erdoğan said.
Recalling that Türkiye presented the Zero Waste Resolution to the UN General Assembly last year in order to share its experiences and spread them on an international scale, Mrs. Erdoğan emphasized that the strong support for the resolution, co-sponsored by 105 countries, points to the sensitivity of the issue at the global level.
“I THINK IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO ESTABLISH A ZERO WASTE INSTITUTE”
Emine Erdoğan stated that as a result of the decision, March 30 was declared as International Day of Zero Waste, while the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also established the United Nations Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste, which has two missions: “sharing best practices and success stories" and "promoting zero waste initiatives at local and national level”.
“I think it will be beneficial to establish a Zero Waste Institute to research and develop all the experiences and achievements. In line with the goals set by our advisory board, I hope that the institute will be a platform where best practices and lessons learned are recorded by compiling the world's know-how in the field of waste management,” First Lady Erdoğan said.
“NOT ALL COUNTRIES ARE ON EQUAL FOOTING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE CLIMATE CRISIS”
Mrs. Erdoğan stated that the ultimate ideal of the Global Zero Waste Movement is for every single person to adopt a waste-free lifestyle.
“Not all countries are on equal footing in the fight against the climate crisis. We need to mobilize every means and instrument to actively involve the least developing countries in the climate struggle, especially those that are disproportionately affected despite having no share in global warming. In the case of zero waste, transfer of experience, technology and financing is of great importance,” Mrs. Erdoğan said.
1/11/2023
