Emine Erdoğan participated in the panel titled "Challenges and Solutions in Sustainable Waste and Resource Management: Why National Initiatives on Zero Waste Are Important?” held during the UN General Assembly.

In addition to Emine Erdoğan, the panel was attended by Esra Albayrak, wife of Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak and daughter of Erdoğan, as well as the wives of Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. Also present were the spouses of leaders from the TRNC, Thailand, Iraq, Bulgaria, Somalia, Lithuania, Norway, Greece, and Morocco, along with Princess Dina Mired of Jordan.

In her speech here, Emine Erdoğan said, "Each era creates its own tragedies. Although we describe our time as the age of technology or information, we are actually living in an age of plastic. Unfortunately, plastics have surrounded our world."

Emine Erdoğan emphasized that sustainable living is only possible through the preservation of soil, water, climate, and biodiversity, highlighting that the issue affects not only today but also future generations.

"PLASTIC HAS ALREADY BECOME A PART OF OUR LIVES"

Referring to recent environmental studies conducted in Colorado and France, Emine Erdoğan stated, "Plastic has already become a part of the water we drink and even the air we breathe. Plastic waste that floats as a single mass in the water is broken down into micro-particles by the ocean’s salty water, strong waves, and the impact of waste against rocks. Therefore, plastic waste is now found even on shores with no human settlements."

She pointed out that microplastics are encountered in soil, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and every link in the food chain. "It has been determined that microplastics can travel 100 kilometers through the air with the wind. This is now far beyond mere urban pollution. Plastics discarded in one part of the world can travel to entirely different places. The environmental crisis is issuing a severe warning," she cautioned.

Recalling that measures are being taken worldwide to prevent the environmental crisis, Emine Erdoğan said, "Alongside taking certain measures, I believe we must also appeal to the world’s conscience. What we call the environmental crisis is ultimately the cost of our lifestyle, our modes of production—in short, this consumption-based world order. To reverse the effects of this cost, we launched the zero-waste movement in Turkey in 2017."

"WE CONTINUE OUR MARINE LITTER MONITORING WORK WITH PRECISION"

Emine Erdoğan stated that the initial steps of this project were taken in public buildings such as the Presidential Complex, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), and ministry buildings. She noted, "Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, the zero waste movement has rapidly spread across the country. Our municipalities are approaching the matter with great care, and particularly in schools, activities that help children gain environmental awareness are being conducted one after another."

Reminding that the launch of the Zero Waste Blue project took place three months ago, Emine Erdoğan said, "As a country bordering the Mediterranean, I would like to emphasize our deep sensitivity towards the pollution here. As a nation, we continue our marine litter monitoring efforts meticulously within the framework of international agreements. Reports prepared on this subject are published in both Turkish and English."

Quoting the writer Yaşar Kemal, who said, "Life is producing hope from despair. Humanity has arrived at this point by generating hope from hopelessness," Emine Erdoğan added, "So, we still have a long way to go. I believe one of humankind's capabilities is to turn darkness into light. The prospect of having more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050 should not be our fate."

"WE ARE OPEN TO ALL KINDS OF COOPERATION"

Emine Erdoğan noted that the zero waste initiatives are already beginning to yield results and continued:

"As a country, we are open to all kinds of cooperation to build a livable future for all the world's children. I believe that to overcome the environmental crisis, all existing borders between countries must be removed. I hope that the climate change summit, addressed within the framework of the 74th UN General Assembly, will lead to important decisions. I see the preparation of a new international agreement on marine litter and microplastics as urgent. This is not a time for just thinking, discussing, or preparing reports on this issue; it's time to act."

Expressing her wish to welcome participants to Turkey soon, Erdoğan concluded with, "With the hope for a future where raindrops remain clear and the waters of the Earth stay deep blue, I greet you all with love and respect."

UN Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Columbia University Center for Sustainable Development Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, UN Environment Programme Deputy Secretary-General and New York Office Director Satya S. Tripathi, and Director of the World Health Organization's Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health Department Dr. Maria Neira also delivered speeches at the panel.

The speakers emphasized the significance of a First Lady's tangible contributions to an issue of global concern and thanked Emine Erdoğan for her leadership.