We know that all forms of human activity have certain negative impacts on the ecosystem. It is therefore extremely important to prioritise the goal of reducing these adverse effects to as close to zero as possible. Although the increase in awareness and concrete action in this area is not yet sufficient, the progress being made is encouraging. Today, as environmental awareness continues to grow rapidly around the world, waste has become one of the key issues on the global agenda.
The concept of zero waste has been on our agenda since the 1970s. Although over the years the concept has at times been treated as a trend, an eye-catching label or a marketing campaign, zero waste is now taking on new meaning, driven by a growing recognition that it requires continuous and sustained effort. Another highly significant step was the declaration of 30 March as "International Day of Zero Waste" under a United Nations General Assembly resolution adopted in 2022 at Türkiye's initiative, following the launch of the Zero Waste Movement in 2017 under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Zero waste is based on a holistic system that extends from production to consumption and from consumption to recovery. Accordingly, rather than asking "How can we dispose of waste?", the zero-waste approach focuses on the question "How can we produce without generating waste in the first place?" This perspective requires a broad transformation ranging from individual behaviour and industrial production to local government policies and global economic systems.
With only a short time remaining until COP31 in Antalya, what was initially expressed and perceived simply as the reuse or repurposing of materials considered waste is now, in its transformed meaning, increasingly regarded as an indispensable component of climate action. Waste pollution not only threatens human health but also costs the global economy hundreds of billions of dollars every year and, of course, further exacerbates the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Today, humanity generates between 2.1 and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste every year. Moreover, unless urgent action is taken, annual waste generation is projected to reach 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. Food waste alone is responsible for approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, continuing to pose a threat to the climate and the environment.
Concrete Proposals Put Forward Ahead of Antalya
Türkiye's hosting of COP31, a summit of critical global importance, will offer a historic opportunity to accelerate zero-waste policies above all, as well as recycling infrastructure, the integration of the private sector into this process and, overall, a cultural transformation. Zero waste, which will also feature as an item on COP31's climate agenda, may well be the area in which the summit takes the most concrete steps. Indeed, the COP31 Presidency has stated that one of the summit's objectives is to halve the growth in global waste volumes by 2035. Zero waste will therefore be among the policy models that Türkiye presents to the world at COP31.
One of the clearest indications of this was the 2026 Global Zero Waste Forum held in Istanbul in June. With the theme "Towards Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Action", the forum clearly conveyed its message from the outset. Waste management was addressed not merely as an environmental policy issue but also as a matter of climate action, resource management and economic transformation.
The forum’s final declaration offered a concrete perspective on how the issue of zero waste could be addressed at COP31. First and foremost, it emphasized the need to regard waste management as a climate policy aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Extending product lifespans through various methods, from reuse to remanufacturing, and thereby reducing waste generation at its source were identified as key objectives.
Another important message from the forum was that the circular economy and climate policy cannot be considered separately. A target was set to reduce emissions by keeping existing resources within the economy for longer. Preventing methane emissions—a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide—and recycling organic waste through various methods rather than sending it to landfill were also among the key issues highlighted.
Food and Plastics Are Key Topics
The expansion of the zero-waste approach to every stage of food production, one of the major sources of waste, was also discussed in Istanbul. The need to improve infrastructure in order to reduce this type of waste was emphasised. Plastic pollution, which has been increasing in recent years, is another essential issue for the zero-waste approach. The forum therefore specifically recommended reducing single-use plastics, developing reuse systems and addressing the entire life cycle of plastics.
Since informal waste pickers carry out a significant share of recycling activities in many cities around the world, the forum also proposed integrating these workers into formal waste-management systems through measures such as safer working conditions and income security. The central role of local governments and cities was also highlighted. As cities are the primary areas in which zero-waste policies are implemented, emphasis was placed on strengthening cities and the municipalities that govern them throughout every stage of the process, from waste collection to recycling. More specifically, the forum stressed the importance of establishing strong links between national climate action programmes and these local initiatives.
Directly Linked to Climate Finance Discussions
While all of these issues are highly important ahead of COP31, the indispensable element underlying all these proposals — the question of cost, a recurring theme at climate summits — is likely to be discussed extensively in Antalya. Regardless of the proposals put forward regarding the zero-waste approach, increasing financing and investment remains the most essential issue. Today, significant technological advances in zero waste have provided us with powerful tools. However, solutions are still needed, particularly for developing countries facing shortcomings in waste management, recycling and reuse infrastructure, and consequently in their transition towards circular economies. All of these issues are also likely to be directly linked to discussions on climate finance, an area to which COP31 attaches considerable importance.
Another issue expected to be on the agenda in Antalya is the development of indicators for measuring waste globally. If the ultimate objective is truly zero waste, making progress measurable and observable is essential to ensure that efforts do not go to waste. Establishing comparable standards across cities and countries for indicators ranging from how much waste we generate to how much of it we are able to recycle — and sharing this information transparently with the public — would help increase the overall effectiveness and benefits of climate policies.
One thing is clear: better waste management alone will never be sufficient to achieve sustainable development. We need an approach that transforms our production and consumption systems in a fair and equitable manner, strengthens circular economies and, ultimately, promotes a model of climate action that also reduces emissions. The zero-waste approach has now become a necessity for our planet. For this reason, COP31 appears set to assume a highly important role in advancing this agenda and taking the steps necessary to make zero waste an integral part of global climate policy.
Date: 11 September 2026
