New York, USA, October 12, 2026

Turkiye 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 Turkiye presented implementation, technology transfer and access to finance as central themes ahead of COP31.

Zero Waste vision opens the week

H.E. Emine Erdogan, 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 Turkiye in 2017 and has expanded across public institutions, municipalities, schools, hospitals and households. At the Climate Week opening, H.E. Emine Erdogan 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 Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkiye, addressed world leaders during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly and invited them to COP31, which Turkiye will host in Antalya from November 9 to 20.

President Erdogan said Turkiye 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 Turkiye, 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 Kacir, Minister of Industry and Technology of Turkiye. 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 Agirbas, 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 Agirbas 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, Agirbas 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 Turkiye'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.

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Ahmet Musa Bala

Zero Waste Foundation

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