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Istanbul to Become Global Zero Waste Hub
🇹🇷 Turkey /Environment & Climate

Istanbul to Become Global Zero Waste Hub

From Sabah · (6m ago) Turkish Positive tone

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Istanbul will host offices for over 10 international organizations focused on the Zero Waste Project.
  • The project, initiated under the patronage of Emine Erdoğan, has become a global movement supported by 105 countries.
  • Turkey aims to reach a 60% recycling rate by 2035 and will host a major Zero Waste Forum in June.

Istanbul is set to become a global hub for environmental action, with over ten international organizations establishing their zero-waste offices in the city. This significant development stems from the "Zero Waste Project," a national initiative championed by Emine Erdoğan, which has evolved into a global movement since its inception in 2017.

Erdoğan bu kenti Birleşmiş Milletler'in (BM) bir merkezi haline getirmek istiyor. Biz de Emine Erdoğan'ın liderliğinde bu vizyonun sıfır atık ve çevre bağlamındaki takipçisi olmak istiyoruz. Bu bağlamda önümüzdeki 5 yıl içerisinde 10'dan fazla uluslararası kuruluşun sıfır atık çalışmalarını yapacağı ofisini İstanbul'a açmasını hedefliyoruz

— Samed Ağırbaş, Sıfır Atık Vakfı BaşkanıExplaining the vision for Istanbul as a UN center and the goal of attracting international zero-waste organizations.

The project, coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, has already demonstrated substantial savings in energy, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and decreased landfill waste, positioning Turkey as a leader in sustainable practices. The nation has set an ambitious target of achieving a 60% recovery rate by 2035, reflecting a strong commitment to environmental stewardship.

Further solidifying its global role, Turkey, with the support of 105 countries, successfully advocated for the UN to declare March 30th as International Zero Waste Day. The upcoming "Zero Waste Forum," scheduled for June 5-7 at Atatürk Airport, is expected to be the world's largest civil environmental and zero-waste event, drawing over 150 countries and 5,000 participants, including numerous mayors and private sector representatives.

Sıfır Atık Hareketi'nin artık kıtaları aştığını, hemen hemen her ülkede, bu hareketin dünyaya verdiği pozitif katkıyı gördüklerini söyleyen Ağırbaş "5-7 Haziran'da Atatürk Havalimanı'nda Sıfır Atık Forumu'nu düzenliyoruz. Oraya 150'den fazla ülke katılacak ve 5 binden fazla katılım bekliyoruz. Dünyanın en büyük sivil çevre ve sıfır atık etkinliği olma özelliği ni taşıyor."

— Samed Ağırbaş, Sıfır Atık Vakfı BaşkanıDescribing the global reach of the Zero Waste Movement and the scale of the upcoming forum.

Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation, highlighted President Erdoğan's vision of transforming Istanbul into a United Nations center, with the zero-waste initiative playing a key role in this ambition. The foundation sees itself as a facilitator, providing a platform for global environmental organizations to collaborate and share ideas. This focus on Istanbul as a nexus for international cooperation on environmental issues is a point of national pride, showcasing Turkey's growing influence on the global stage and its dedication to tackling climate change.

Vakıf olarak Emine Erdoğan liderliğinde dünyadaki bütün çevre örgütlerine rahatça tartışabilecekleri, özgürce fikirlerini ifade edebilecekleri bir platform sunduk

— Samed Ağırbaş, Sıfır Atık Vakfı BaşkanıStating the foundation's role in providing a platform for environmental organizations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Sabah in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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