First Lady Erdoğan attends Zero Waste Forum

First Lady Emine Erdoğan attended the opening session of the Zero Waste Forum 2026 held under the auspices of the Istanbul Governor’s Office in collaboration with the Zero Waste Foundation.

Speaking at the Forum, First Lady Erdoğan said that they are hosting representatives from 183 countries, over 500 institutions and organizations, and more than 5,000 attendees at the Forum today, voicing her hope that the synergy emerging from the Forum will lead to brand-new beginnings for the humanity’s shared future.

First Lady Erdoğan said: “That this year’s Forum coincides with the COP31 climate summit to be hosted by Türkiye is an important opportunity in terms of showing the strategic value of zero waste in the fight against climate change. That is so, because there are many ways to combat climate change, but zero waste is the bridge that connects all those ways. What is more, it is the unifying power of the climate fight. Therefore, we see this year’s Forum as an important milestone on the path to the COP31 to be hosted by Türkiye.”

Drawing attention to food waste, First Lady Erdoğan underscored that Türkiye carries out such exemplary works as the “Prevention Bread Waste” campaign on the issue, adding that by choosing the food waste theme for the International Day of Zero Waste, they have once again brought up the issue to the global agenda.