UN Türkiye at Zero Waste Forum 2026

The Zero Waste Forum 2026 took place in Istanbul from 5 to 7 June 2026 under the theme “The Road to Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Action,” bringing together ministers, mayors, business leaders, representatives of international organizations, technical experts, academia and civil society ahead of COP31, which Türkiye will host in Antalya in November 2026.

The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Türkiye maintained a strong and highly visible presence throughout the Forum, demonstrating a whole-of-UN approach to advancing climate action, circular economy solutions and sustainable development.

UN agencies participated across the Forum programme, contributing to three High-Level Ministerial Sessions, twelve technical sessions and one UN side event, while also engaging visitors through the UN Türkiye Stand and a range of outreach activities.

The UN’s contributions spanned a wide range of interconnected themes, including circular economy approaches in industry and technology, sustainable agriculture and food systems, climate change mitigation, energy transition, urban resilience, financing for circular solutions, sustainable consumption and production, gender equality, youth engagement, health and inclusive green transformation.

Strong UN Leadership Across High-Level Sessions

The United Nations was represented at the highest level by Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Türkiye, who participated in the High-Level Ministerial Sessions on Industry and Technology, Environment and Climate Change, and Agriculture and Forestry, delivered the closing remarks at the Cities Day with Mayors Roundtable, and moderated the UN Women COP31 side event.

Throughout the Forum, the Resident Coordinator highlighted the importance of transforming production and consumption patterns, reducing waste, accelerating industrial decarbonization and strengthening partnerships ahead of COP31. He emphasized that circularity is not only an environmental imperative but also a pathway to innovation, competitiveness, resilience and sustainable development.

At the policy level, several UN entities were represented in ministerial discussions. UNEP, UNDP, FAO, WFP and UN Women contributed expertise on climate action, circular economy, sustainable agriculture, energy transition, food systems transformation and gender-responsive approaches to zero waste. Senior representatives, including the Resident Coordinator, the UNDP Resident Representative, the UN Women Country Director, the FAO Representative, the WFP Representative and the Director of UNEP’s Climate Change Division participated in high-level discussions throughout the Forum.

Technical Expertise Across the Forum Programme

The UN system also played a prominent role in the Forum’s extensive technical programme.

UNEP had the broadest engagement, providing speakers and moderators across numerous sessions on climate mitigation, circular economy financing, waste pricing, organic waste management, industrial circularity, construction and demolition waste, urban sustainability, and data and indicators for zero waste.

UN-Habitat contributed to the Cities Day and technical discussions on urban planning, energy systems and waste prevention, while FAO led discussions on food safety, food donations and surplus redistribution. UNFPA highlighted the health and climate impacts of open burning, while UNICEF opened a plenary session focused on children and youth, emphasizing the critical role of younger generations in advancing the zero-waste agenda.

The RCO also contributed to discussions on aviation-related waste management, further demonstrating the breadth of UN engagement across sectors.

Together, the contributions of RCO, UNEP, UNDP, FAO, WFP, UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA, IFAD and UN-Habitat showcased the depth of UN expertise and thought leadership across the Forum’s priority themes.

UN Türkiye Stand Attracts Nearly 1,000 Visitors

A major feature of the Forum was the UN Türkiye Stand, made possible through the in-kind support of the Zero Waste Foundation, which served as a hub for dialogue, outreach, learning and partnership-building throughout the three-day event.

Nearly 1,000 Forum participants visited the stand to learn more about the work of the United Nations in Türkiye and its support to national efforts on climate action, sustainable development, disaster resilience, food systems transformation, circular economy approaches, gender equality, youth engagement, sustainable urbanization and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The stand showcased the collective work of the UN system in Türkiye through videos, interactive materials and direct engagement with visitors, highlighting how UN entities are supporting Türkiye’s green transformation and preparations for COP31.

Particular interest was generated by the “Zero Waste UN Display”, an innovative exhibit created by young people, UN Volunteers and UN interns using materials that had previously been sitting unused in office archives and storage areas. The display demonstrated how creativity, reuse and resource efficiency can transform waste into a powerful message for climate action and responsible consumption. 

The stand welcomed a wide range of visitors, including government officials, mayors, private sector leaders, civil society organizations, students, members of the diplomatic community and international partners.

Among the distinguished visitors were İbrahim Yumaklı, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and Samed Ağırbaş, Chairperson of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion.

The UN Türkiye Stand also hosted bilateral meetings, networking opportunities and a social media campaign inviting visitors to share their personal climate and zero-waste commitments, helping to amplify public engagement and awareness.

Building Momentum Towards COP31

The Forum highlighted the growing recognition that zero waste and circular economy approaches are essential tools for tackling climate change, strengthening resilience and accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Throughout the discussions, participants emphasized the need to move from commitments to implementation, strengthen partnerships and scale innovative solutions capable of delivering tangible climate and development benefits.

As preparations continue for COP31 in Antalya, the United Nations in Türkiye will continue working closely with government institutions, local authorities, the private sector, academia, civil society and young people to advance climate action, support sustainable development and accelerate the transition towards a more resilient, inclusive and circular future.