Emine Erdoğan, the First Lady of Turkey, traveled to the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, to accompany President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on his official visit to attend the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, which is part of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
During her visit, Emine Erdoğan held a meeting with the Executive Director of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Achim Steiner. The focus of their discussion was on the alarming issue of food waste in the face of global hunger. Emine Erdoğan emphasized the unacceptable and saddening reality of food waste worldwide and highlighted Turkey’s Zero Waste Project, which began with the composting of food waste at the Presidential Complex and the Grand National Assembly.
Emine Erdoğan also took the opportunity to learn about UNDP’s waste management efforts in earthquake-affected areas, particularly emphasizing the importance of recycling construction waste from the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6. She underscored the need to support individuals like Palestinian Agricultural Engineer Inas El-Gul, who have developed systems to convert seawater into drinking water in Gaza under challenging conditions, promoting sustainable production practices.
Steiner commended Emine Erdoğan’s leadership and initiatives in the Zero Waste sector, describing her efforts as significant and inspiring. He expressed his desire to support these initiatives by signing the Global Zero Waste Declaration and revealed that he had written a letter to that effect. Steiner acknowledged that he had learned a great deal from Turkey’s waste disposal experiences, particularly emphasizing the issue of food waste. He highlighted that 30-40% of the world’s food production goes to waste without being consumed, contributing to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Steiner stressed the importance of evaluating food waste for its economic and emission reduction benefits.
Following his remarks, Steiner signed the Global Zero Waste Declaration, showing his commitment to the cause. The meeting also covered Turkey’s upcoming Climate Law, discussing examples of climate change mitigation efforts such as the deposit management system and the Mapa Buoy Project aimed at preserving marine life and coastal areas.
Emine Erdoğan was accompanied by Turkey’s Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Murat Kurum and Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation, during the meeting. Steiner was joined by Ivana Zivković, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Director of UNDP.
Taking to her social media account to share insights from her meeting with Steiner, Emine Erdoğan expressed her appreciation for the collaboration and emphasized the importance of global partnerships in addressing waste management and greenhouse gas emissions. She highlighted the significance of Steiner signing the Global Zero Waste Declaration as a symbol of their joint commitment to preserving the balance of our planet.
In conclusion, the meeting between Emine Erdoğan and Achim Steiner served as a platform for discussing critical issues related to food waste, sustainable production, and climate change mitigation efforts. Their collaboration and commitment to the Zero Waste cause exemplify the urgent need for collective action in safeguarding our planet for future generations.
