24.08.2026 12:11
COP31 High-Level Climate Champion Samed Ağırbaş wrote for Pakistan's The Express Tribune newspaper: Emphasizing the 'Zero Waste' approach against record temperatures, melting glaciers, and energy crises, Ağırbaş stated that production and consumption must be reshaped according to nature's perfect cycle.
Zero Waste Foundation President and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion Samed Ağırbaş penned a striking article in Pakistan's largest newspaper, The Express Tribune. Emphasizing that the "Zero Waste" approach is the most vital climate action for humanity in the face of global temperature records, melting glaciers, and raw material crises, Ağırbaş stated that humanity must model nature's perfect cycle.
TÜRKİYE'S COP31 VISION AND INTERNATIONAL STRUGGLE
The Zero Waste Foundation, which continues its work under the globally recognized vision and patronage of Her Excellency Emine Erdoğan, Chair of the United Nations Zero Waste High-Level Advisory Board and Honorary President of the Zero Waste Foundation, resolutely continues its solution-oriented international struggle against the climate crisis.
While concrete and applicable solutions to the climate crisis are gaining momentum during Türkiye's COP31 Presidency; the preparations carried out under the leadership of COP31 President, Mr. Murat Kurum, bring Türkiye's experience and knowledge to the global agenda. COP31, to be held in Antalya, stands out as a critical meeting point where topics such as the efficient use of resources, strengthening the circular economy, and preventing waste at its source will be addressed, in addition to combating climate change.
GLOBAL CRISES AND CLIMATE ALARM
In his article, Samed Ağırbaş drew attention to concrete climate and resource crises shaking the world, recalling the following examples:
- Extreme Heat and Glacier Melt: Historic June temperatures in Western Europe exceeding the average by 3.05 degrees, and the massive A23a, once the largest iceberg, melting and disappearing in the South Atlantic Ocean.
- Energy and Supply Crises: Deep energy crises created in global markets by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and supply chain disruptions.
- Consumption Rate: Humanity consuming the renewable resources offered by the Earth each year as early as the 7th month and spending 1.7 times the natural capital.
- Waste and Fossil Fuel Burden: Only 6.9 percent of materials used being recovered back into the economy, fossil fuels still meeting more than 80 percent of global energy, and massive municipal waste exceeding 2 billion tons annually.
"WE MUST MODEL NATURE'S PERFECT CYCLE"
Emphasizing that the future must have a structure that is more resource-efficient and less waste-based, Ağırbaş made the following assessment:
"We are witnessing, on one hand, the devastating effects of a warming planet, and on the other, the irreversible losses of nature and the deep wounds resource dependency inflicts on our economies. Without changing our production and consumption habits, it is impossible for us to protect the soil, forests, and water resources. Nothing goes to waste in nature. We too must model this perfect cycle of nature."
"OUR AIM IS TO COMPLETELY ERASE THE CONCEPT OF 'WASTE' FROM MINDS"
Noting that the Zero Waste Movement, initiated in 2017 under the leadership of Her Excellency Emine Erdoğan, has today become a global model shaping world politics and sustainable development policies, Ağırbaş continued:
"Zero Waste is not just a waste management or recycling program. Waste management is only the last step of this hierarchy. Our primary goal, shaped by the vision of Her Excellency Emine Erdoğan, is to prevent waste at its source, extend the useful life of products, and completely erase the concept of 'waste' from minds. From preventing food waste, which amounts to 1 billion tons annually and causes 8-10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, to ensuring food security; we must establish a circular economy in every field, from electronics to textiles."
HOLISTIC FIELD SOLUTIONS FROM FARM TO FORK
Stating that the Zero Waste approach encompasses the entire agricultural and food system from farm to fork, Ağırbaş listed the solutions and benefits offered by the model as follows:
- Farm and Household Solutions: Preventing losses on farms through appropriate storage, transportation, and logistics solutions; and conscious consumption, food sharing, composting, and reuse practices in households.
- Socio-Economic Gain: Going beyond environmental protection to create new employment opportunities, improve livelihoods, and strengthen global food security.
- Industry and Raw Materials: The same fundamental principles being valid for plastics, textiles, electronics, and all raw material categories of industry.
LASTING SUCCESS DEPENDS ON PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS IN DAILY LIFE
Stating that record-level glacier melts, scorching summer heat, and the energy crises that have shaken the world since 2021 point to a turning point, Ağırbaş concluded his remarks as follows:
"Zero Waste reminds us that real progress in the fight against climate change cannot be achieved solely at international negotiation tables. Lasting success depends on practical solutions that societies and individuals can embrace and integrate into daily life. By bridging high-level policies and field applications, we concretely demonstrate that sustainable development and climate action must go hand in hand. The way to build lasting resilience against all these pressures is to prevent waste at its source, before it even occurs, and this is the most just and effective environmental strategy."