Global Zero Waste Alliance aims to turn local solutions into worldwide action: Emine Erdogan

Detailed summary

Türkiye's first lady says the initiative will bring countries together to share best practices, develop joint projects and promote circular economy solutions, as she hosts a high-level meeting of leaders' spouses on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya.

Türkiye’s first lady Emine Erdogan has launched the Global Zero Waste Alliance at COP31, calling for stronger international cooperation to turn shared environmental responsibilities into lasting partnerships and practical action.Speaking at a high-level meeting of leaders’ spouses hosted by her in Antalya on the sidelines of the UN climate summit on Wednesday, Erdogan said the initiative would provide a platform for countries to exchange successful practices, develop joint projects and expand local solutions globally.She said the alliance reflected a shared determination to move beyond commitments and translate environmental awareness into tangible results.“Today, the Global Zero Waste…

Erdogan said one of the most important lessons from Türkiye’s experience was that waste began with decisions rather than at the rubbish bin.She argued that the best way to tackle waste was to prevent it from being generated in the first place, rather than relying solely on recycling.“ We must measure our success not only by the waste we recover but also by the waste we prevent from being generated,” she said, adding that achieving a higher quality of life with fewer resources should be central to development strategies.She also called for greater scrutiny of global production and consumption patterns, pointing to the environmental costs of industries ranging from tobacco and textiles to…

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