Towards a Zero Waste COP31

Zero Waste Foundation is a Business Reporter client

No single country – even a superpower – can single–handedly tackle the climate crisis. Dealing with multilateral global problems needs a multilateral approach, and COP31 in November 2026, hosted by Türkiye in partnership with Australia, is a positive step towards this.

Following Türkiye’s successful bid to host the conference in the city of Antalya, hopes run high for greater alignment of policy, commitment and action on the ground. Türkiye is one of the few countries where environmental goals are aligned with urban development and financing. As COP30 delegates found out, without own source revenue, the best policies and plans remain academic.

“COP31 is a great opportunity to walk to the talk,” said Zero Waste Foundation President Samed Agirbas. “I hope we can have a Zero Waste COP whereby each delegation makes every effort to ensure that they implement commitments made in the past three COPs before coming to Türkiye.”

The Zero Waste Foundation was present at COP30 in Belem. It actively supported Türkiye’s bid to host COP31 by demonstrating that, under the patronage of First Lady Mme Emine Erdoğan, Türkiye’s Zero Waste initiative has grown into a global movement. “I would like to acknowledge the environmental diplomacy conducted under the leadership of honourable minister Murat Kurum, [resulting in the] hosting of the biggest international event in the history of our country,” said Agirbas.

The Zero Waste Foundation also had an opportunity to meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guetteres on the sidelines of COP30.

“I briefed the Secretary-General of the work that the Zero Foundation was carrying out based on the recommendations of the Zero Waste Advisory Board, which met in October,” said Agirbas. “Since the successful completion of the first Zero Waste Forum in October 2025, we have taken cognisance of the views of our stakeholders – the communities and businesses that are actually carrying out Zero Waste activities.

“They are telling us that the world needs better Zero Waste policies and, more importantly, local-level planning that makes Zero Waste living a reality.”

With over 100 partner organisations, the Zero Waste Movement comprises of governmental, municipal, business, academic and civil society partners. Having conducted bilateral meetings and signed MOUs, Agirbas explained, the organisation now stands ready to take things forward. This begins with the drafting of the foundation’s Strategic Plan for 2026-2030.

“The Zero Waste Foundation Strategic Plan is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” said Agirbas. “We need to double if not triple our efforts to help our cities and countries achieve the SDGs.”

Wasting no time, the Zero Waste Foundation supported Türkiye’s Ministry of Agriculture’s initiative to host a ministerial meeting on water conservation. The ministerial forum took place on 28 November and was attended by ministers and high-level representatives from 38 countries.

The theme of the ministerial forum was “Preventing Food and Water Waste, Owning the Future”, and it featured a keynote speech by Emine Erdoğan. “We have only one planet,” she reminded the forum. “We need to take common steps to ensure we protect Planet Earth.”

With the two ministerial level forums on Zero Waste taking place in October and November last year, Istanbul has emerged as a hub for Zero Waste and climate diplomacy.

“What we need to do now is to encourage more countries and cities to join us in this journey to heal the planet,” said Agirbas. “We must break down the silos and the barriers preventing us from taking constructive action on the ground. Financing is critical but let’s all begin at home first. The whole philosophy of Zero Waste is about prevention. Let us not waste the natural resources that we need to sustaining life on earth.”

Although the negotiations at Belem did not meet the expectations of many activists, who urgently highlighted the loss of biodiversity and the damage arising from extreme climate events, the most acute distress was felt with the unfulfilled promise of financing for the global south.

“The hosting of COP31 in Türkiye is a stroke of good fortune for the Zero Waste Foundation as we can actively support the host country as well as the unique Türkiye-Australia partnership,” said Agirbas. “Tackling waste and pollution is the cornerstone of climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. We can make tangible difference that people want to see and feel.”

More importantly, COP31 is being hosted by the Western European and Others group of wealthy industrialised countries. It is an opportunity to strengthen multilateral action and allow for genuine collaboration – and there is no better platform than the commitment to Zero Waste if we are to connect people, the planet and local action.