Turkish First Lady calls zero waste key to climate action
First lady Emine Erdoğan has said the zero waste movement is one of the most transformative tools in the fight against climate change, calling for stronger global action against waste and overconsumption.
Speaking at the opening of the Zero Waste Forum 2026 at Istanbul Atatürk Airport on June 5, Erdoğan said the gathering brought together representatives from 183 countries, more than 500 institutions and over 5,000 participants.
She described the forum as a historic meeting in which the “human family” had come together around a shared ideal.
Erdoğan said zero waste should be seen not only as an environmental policy but also as a strategic part of climate action.
