Türkiye COP31 Climate Summit: Zero Waste Takes Center Stage at Global Forum

By: Abudu Olalekan

Something big is coming. On a sunny Friday in Istanbul – June 5, 2026, World Environment Day – a global green gathering unfolded. Turkey stepped forward there, revealing plans to host COP31 before winter arrives. No half measures here; intent runs deep.

More than seven thousand showed up for the Global Zero Waste Forum. Think ministers, city leaders, green advocates – delegates from well over 180 nations filled the rooms. Numbers like that don’t lie. Put together by the Zero Waste Foundation, the event ran without a single misstep.

Three days passed. Talk never strayed far from a single thought: “The Road to Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Action.” Not merely words meant to sound good. This gathering acted like quiet rehearsal ahead of COP31 – quiet steps taken so nations might walk closer together when it matters. Then silence returned.

Curious what caught everyone’s attention? Cutting emissions through zero-waste habits turned out to be a big one. Stopping the waste of raw materials mattered too. Real actions over empty words stood at the center. Clear messages came from Samed Agirbas – leader of the Zero Waste Foundation and appointed Climate Champion for COP31 – who stressed this gathering aimed beyond speeches. Its goal – to build actual strategies influencing future climate efforts – shaped much of the discussion.

Buckle in. The coastal gem of Antalya, down south in Türkiye, sets the stage for COP31 between November 9 and 20. Delegates from close to 200 nations will arrive. Ankara steps into the lead role. Easy job? Not quite.