How cutting waste became a global priority
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cutting → cut → waste
Ad Feature by Conference of the Parties
From sorting our recycling to carrying reusable shopping bags, reducing waste has become part of everyday life.
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reducing → sort → life
Now the issue is hitting the global stage as world leaders gather in Antalya, Türkiye, for the COP31 climate conference.
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leaders → hit → conference
The Turkish delegation organising this month's summit has made achieving a zero-waste world one of its ten priority themes, alongside discussions on fossil fuels, clean energy and climate finance.
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achieving → organise → fuels
First Lady of Türkiye, Emine Erdoğan, launched the Zero Waste Movement in 2017
It has reserved November 11 for talks about waste prevention, resource recovery, methane emissions and the circular economy - an approach that aims to keep products and materials in use for longer and reduce the amount thrown away.
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that → launch → amount
The UN Environment Programme estimates that the world generates around 2.1 billion tonnes of municipal waste each year and warned this could soar to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050.
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this → estimate → 2050
The focus on this issue at COP31 coincides with the growing international profile of an initiative launched in Türkiye nearly a decade ago.
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focus → coincide → Türkiye
COP31 President and Environment Minister Murat Kurum describes the zero waste agenda as 'the common language of cooperation in our climate diplomacy at the global level'
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Kurum → describe → level
Efforts to sort waste before it is collected were already under way in Türkiye before the Zero Waste Movement was launched nationally in September 2017 under the patronage of First Lady Emine Erdoğan.
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Movement → sort → Erdoğan
Coordinated by the country's Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, the programme aimed to promote sustainable waste management practices across public institutions, schools, local authorities and businesses.
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programme → coordinate → institutions
Its goals included encouraging people to reuse and recycle more of their waste, while reducing consumption wherever possible.
Emine Erdoğan outlined her vision for zero waste in September during a video message to a World Economic Forum event in New York, saying: 'Zero waste means redesigning our production and consumption models and redefining our relationship with nature.'
What has changed in Türkiye?
Since the programme launched, Türkiye has increased the share of rubbish it diverts from landfill and provided waste management training to millions of people.
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it → include → people
The country's waste recovery rate rose from 13 per cent in 2017 to 37.53 per cent in 2025, according to figures from the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change.
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rate → rise → Environment
The government aims to raise that figure to 60 per cent by 2035.
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government → aim → 2035
Türkiye is also expanding its waste awareness and training efforts, which have reached 28 million people so far.
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which → expand → people
Whether the country is generating less waste overall is harder to determine.
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generating → generate → waste
In 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proposed by Türkiye and backed by 105 other countries that established March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste.
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that → adopt → Waste
The awareness day aims to encourage countries to promote sustainable production and consumption and to expand zero waste initiatives.
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day → aim → initiatives
In 2023, UN Secretary-General António Guterres established the Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste, chaired by Emine Erdoğan.
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Guterres → establish → Erdoğan
Supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat, the board was tasked with promoting national and local initiatives, sharing practical experience and encouraging countries to adopt successful ideas and policies.
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board → support → ideas
The zero waste agenda at COP31
During climate talks in Bonn in June, the COP31 Presidency highlighted Emine Erdoğan's Zero Waste Movement alongside an initiative to reduce methane emissions from waste.
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Presidency → highlight → waste
At a panel in Ankara in October, COP31 President and Environment Minister Murat Kurum described the zero waste agenda as 'the common language of cooperation in our climate diplomacy at the global level'.
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Kurum → describe → level
On November 11, Emine Erdoğan is scheduled to lead a high-level roundtable on zero waste, the circular economy and methane.
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Erdoğan → schedule → waste
The first day of COP31, which is being held in the city of Antalya in Türkiye
A session on the Food Waste Breakthrough will examine how cities and businesses can reduce food waste and methane emissions.
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cities → hold → waste
Other discussions will look at how food that would otherwise be thrown away can be redirected to people in need, and how to measure progress towards a circular economy.
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thrown → look → economy
Launched by UNEP and its partners during COP30 in Brazil, the Food Waste Breakthrough aims to halve global food waste by 2030 and contribute to a reduction of up to seven per cent in global methane emissions.
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Breakthrough → launch → emissions
The COP31 Presidency has a different aim: to halve the projected increase in annual global waste generation by 2035.
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Presidency → have → 2035
The target, which is not legally binding, refers to halving the projected growth in the amount of waste the world generates.
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world → bind → waste
By contrast, the Food Waste Breakthrough aims to halve the amount that is currently produced.
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that → aim → amount
As COP31 will show, Türkiye's Zero Waste Movement has become part of the global climate conversation.
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Movement → show → conversation
The challenge will now be to draw on its experience to inspire global action.
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challenge → draw → action
The Aporia
