BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 5. The 2026 Zero Waste
Forum is taking place in Istanbul, Trend reports.
Organized by the Zero Waste Foundation (Sıfır Atık Vakfı),
founded by the First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye Emine Erdogan,
the forum, entitled “Towards Antalya: Zero Waste as a Climate
Measure,” is a high-level platform to promote the zero waste
approach as a practical climate measure on the road to COP31 in
Antalya.
The forum brought together representatives of governments,
ministers, various international organizations, including the UN,
business circles, academia, financial institutions, and civil
society organizations from 183 countries. The Azerbaijani
delegation is led by Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of
the Republic of Azerbaijan and Executive Director of the Heydar
Aliyev Foundation.
Along with the pavilion organized by the Turkish Zero Waste
Foundation, Azerbaijan is also represented at the forum by a
national pavilion. Organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the
pavilion features materials reflecting the history, culture,
nature, architectural monuments, and multicultural values of
Azerbaijan. In addition, information is provided on the country’s
environmental policy, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s projects aimed
at environmental protection and the creation of parks, as well as
the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, and the restoration and
reconstruction work carried out in the Karabakh zone liberated from
occupation.
The Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Zero Waste Foundation also
held a joint pavilion at the COP29 conference in Baku. In
accordance with a memorandum of understanding signed in 2024, the
Heydar Aliyev Foundation, led by First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban
Aliyeva, and the Zero Waste Foundation, established at the
initiative of First Lady of Türkiye Emine Erdogan, aim to develop
sustainable solutions that contribute to the development of various
sectors of society, as well as to cooperate in environmental
protection, the promotion of cultural exchange, and the
preservation of cultural heritage.
The Zero Waste 2026 Forum is dedicated to the concept of zero
waste as a key element of the climate agenda. Discussions focus on
waste prevention, the implementation of circular economy practices,
food waste reduction, and methane emission reduction measures, as
well as achieving practical, measurable results in the short term,
taking into account the feasibility of their implementation at the
city level. The event aims to strengthen cooperation in the area of
the Zero Waste concept, expand partnerships, and identify
practical mechanisms for implementing joint initiatives.
The forum is of great importance in terms of ensuring readiness
for implementation and strengthening stakeholder participation in
the lead-up to the global climate conference COP31, which will be
held in Turkish Antalya in 2026.
The forum, which runs until June 7, is expected to include
high-level sessions covering industry and technology, agriculture
and forestry, and energy and natural resources. Additionally, the
theme day will focus on “Food Waste and Methane,” given the urgency
of eliminating food waste as a highly effective and short-term
opportunity to combat climate change.
It is expected that a number of important documents and
initiatives will be prepared within the framework of the forum.