The global push to reduce waste is now a central theme at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, with the host nation highlighting its "Zero Waste Movement." Launched nationally in September 2017 under the patronage of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, the initiative aims to promote sustainable waste management practices and shift towards a circular economy.
Coordinated by Türkiye's Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, the program seeks to encourage reuse and recycling while curbing consumption. Emine Erdoğan has framed "zero waste" as a fundamental redesign of production and consumption models and a redefinition of humanity's relationship with nature. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that the world generates approximately 2.1 billion tonnes of municipal waste annually, a figure projected to reach 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050.
Türkiye's efforts have led to an increase in its waste recovery rate, which rose from 13% in 2017 to 37.53% in 2025, with a government target of 60% by 2035. Waste management training has been provided to 28 million people across the country. In 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, proposed by Türkiye and co-sponsored by 105 nations, establishing March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste.
Zero Waste Agenda at COP31
At COP31, November 11 is dedicated to discussions on waste prevention, resource recovery, methane emissions, and the circular economy. COP31 President and Environment Minister Murat Kurum has described the zero waste agenda as "the common language of cooperation in our climate diplomacy at the global level." High-level discussions will include a roundtable led by Emine Erdoğan on zero waste, the circular economy, and methane, as well as a session on the "Food Waste Breakthrough" initiative, which aims to halve global food waste and reduce methane emissions by 2030.
The COP31 Presidency has set a goal to halve the projected increase in annual global waste generation by 2035. This initiative aims to build on Türkiye's experience to inspire broader global action on waste reduction and management. The concept of a circular economy, which seeks to keep products and materials in use for longer, is central to these efforts. Food waste, in particular, is highlighted as a significant issue, with households accounting for 60% of the 1.05 billion tonnes generated globally in 2022, according to UNEP. Wasting food also means wasting the resources used in its production, and organic waste in landfills releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
