New York, USA – October 12, 2026 – [KOREWIRE]
Türkiye used Climate Week NYC and engagements around the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly to connect its zero waste approach, COP31 preparations and a new green industrialization mechanism for Least Developed Countries (LDC-GIF).
The Zero Waste Foundation participated as a principal partner of Climate Week NYC and as a partner in the LDC-GIF dialogue, while Türkiye presented implementation, technology transfer and access to finance as central themes ahead of COP31.
Zero Waste vision opens the week
H.E. Emine Erdoğan, Founder of the Zero Waste Movement, Chair of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board of Zero Waste and Honorary President of the Zero Waste Foundation, addressed the opening event of Climate Week NYC on September 21.
She said the zero waste approach extends beyond waste management and requires production and consumption patterns to be reconsidered.
Her remarks placed individual choices alongside broader systems, infrastructure and international cooperation. She described zero waste as an approach that can move people from passive observation toward participation in climate solutions, while also stressing the responsibilities of governments and companies.
The Zero Waste Movement began in Türkiye in 2017 and has expanded across public institutions, municipalities, schools, hospitals and households. At the Climate Week opening, H.E. Emine Erdoğan also linked the approach to resource efficiency, circular production and more durable, repairable and reusable products.
COP31 invitation delivered from the UN rostrum
H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, addressed world leaders during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly and invited them to COP31, which Türkiye will host in Antalya from November 9 to 20.
President Erdoğan said Türkiye wants COP31 to focus on implementation, with climate justice elevated, financing commitments fulfilled, technology transfer accelerated and pledges converted into concrete action. He also identified the Zero Waste Movement as an important element of climate action.
COP31 preparations are being led by Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and COP31 President. Zero waste, circular economy and resource efficiency are among the areas being advanced in the implementation-focused agenda.
LDC-GIF brings green industrialization into the implementation agenda
The Least Developed Countries Green Industrialization Facilitation Mechanism (LDC-GIF) was introduced during a high-level dialogue at United Nations Headquarters in New York on the margins of the General Assembly and Climate Week NYC.
Developed by Türkiye, the mechanism aims to support green industrialisation in Least Developed Countries by facilitating access to green technologies, technical expertise, project development support and financing. The Zero Waste Foundation joined the dialogue as a partner.
The meeting was chaired by H.E. Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Industry and Technology of Türkiye. Participants included H.E. Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 Climate High-Level Champion Samed Ağırbaş, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and OHRLLS High Representative Rabab Fatima, and United Nations Technology Bank Managing Director Roland Mollerus.
The mechanism is being developed as a facilitative platform rather than a new parallel financing architecture. It is designed to connect country needs and project pipelines with existing technologies, technical expertise and financing resources, with a formal launch expected during COP31 in Antalya.
From commitments to investable projects
Samed Ağırbaş emphasised that green industrialization should combine resource efficiency with improved access to technology and finance. He also connected the zero waste approach to industrial policy and more efficient use of materials and energy.
During a Climate Week NYC round table at the Harvard Club, Ağırbaş focused on the steps needed to turn climate commitments into investable projects. The discussion covered policy predictability, risk sharing, project preparation, implementation planning and ways to mobilize private capital.
He said the private sector is an indispensable partner in delivering climate action on the ground. He identified policy alignment, capacity and innovation, and implementation planning as important areas for building projects that can attract investment and produce measurable results.
The COP31 Action Agenda was also introduced at UN Headquarters in New York by COP31 President-Designate H.E Murat Kurum outlining priorities and a roadmap for translating climate objectives into concrete action, with zero waste among the key areas of implementation.
Across the week, the Zero Waste Foundation linked these discussions with COP31 preparations and Türkiye’s zero waste experience. The Foundation’s New York program brought together zero waste, climate finance, resource efficiency and green industrialization around a common implementation focus ahead of the Antalya summit.
About Zero Waste Foundation
The Zero Waste Foundation is a Türkiye-based organization dedicated to advancing sustainable resource management, waste reduction, circular economy practices, and environmental awareness. Inspired by the Zero Waste Movement launched in Türkiye in 2017, the Foundation promotes collaboration among governments, businesses, international organizations, and communities to support sustainable production and consumption. Through international partnerships, policy dialogue, and educational initiatives, the Foundation works to strengthen resource efficiency, encourage environmental responsibility, and contribute to global climate action.
Website: https://sifiratikvakfi.org/en
Media Contact Information
Ahmet Musa Bala
Zero Waste Foundation
basin@sifiratikvakfi.org
News Source: PinionNewswire
