Istanbul Zero Waste Forum focuses on circular economy ahead of COP31

Climate action and circular economy

The Zero Waste Forum resumed Saturday in Istanbul with delegates examining circular economy frameworks and supply-chain food waste, advancing discussions under the banner "Road to Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Action." The three-day gathering, which concludes Sunday, positions zero-waste policies as integral to global climate mitigation efforts ahead of the COP31 conference Türkiye will host in Antalya in November.

Saturday's agenda concentrated on organic waste management and its contribution to methane emissions, alongside strategies to prevent food loss at the source and reduce surplus across distribution networks. Additional panels addressed industrial transitions to circular production models, bioeconomy development, and the influence of consumer behavior and media narratives on waste generation patterns, according to the program.

High-level international participation

First lady Emine Erdogan opened the forum Friday in her capacity as chair of the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Zero Waste and honorary president of the Zero Waste Foundation, saying that waste reduction represents a pillar of sustainable development. UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach also addressed the opening session, noting that urban governance plays a critical role in achieving environmental targets.

The participant roster includes Jordanian Princess Dana Firas, Zimbabwean first lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, Burundian first lady Angeline Ndayishimiye, and UN Zero Waste Advisory Board Vice Chair Jose Manuel Moller. Russian presidential aide and climate envoy Ruslan Edelgeriev joined former heads of state including Mauritian ex-president Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former Serbian President Boris Tadic, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, and former Slovenian President Borut Pahor, according to organizers.

Public engagement and citywide initiatives

The forum anchors Istanbul Zero Waste Week, a municipal campaign uniting public institutions, local administrations, businesses, and civil society organizations around sustainable consumption models. The initiative seeks to embed zero-waste principles across urban planning and household practices throughout the metropolis.

Concurrent with the diplomatic sessions, the Zero Waste Festival runs exhibitions and workshops designed to broaden environmental awareness among residents. The programming complements the forum's technical sessions, which continue through Sunday as participants prepare recommendations for the UN climate summit Türkiye will host in Antalya this November.