Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has been awarded the "Global Goals Action Award" by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkey Office for her contributions to the Zero Waste Project and other environmental initiatives.

At the ceremony held at the Beştepe State Guest House, Claudio Tomasi, the UNDP Turkey Resident Representative, presented the award to Emine Erdoğan, recognizing the significant contributions of the Zero Waste Project to the UN's "Responsible Production and Consumption" goal.

In her speech after receiving the award, Emine Erdoğan noted that she shares a special awareness with the UNDP Office and expressed her belief that the collaboration of environmentally conscious individuals creates great synergy. She dedicated the precious award to those who dedicate their life energy to advocating for nature and expressed her gratitude to the UNDP Turkey Office.

Emine Erdoğan emphasized that it is unacceptable to recklessly consume all of nature's resources. Thanking Tomasi, who is completing his term, she wished him success in his new role and highlighted that he should see Turkey as his home.

She conveyed that humans have the opportunity to rectify their mistakes until their last breath and that this hope should be utilized to transform today's errors into tomorrow's truths. She pointed out that the realities presented by science indicate a dark future, particularly regarding the climate crisis. 

Emine Erdoğan stated that scientists have indicated that the current generation is the last that can change the environmental narrative. "We must take this opportunity and work harder to leave a better world for the future. The resources of nature are a common heritage for both humanity today and future generations. It is unacceptable to consume this heritage recklessly," she said.

Addressing the Turkish culture's approach of viewing the environment as a trust, Emine Erdoğan continued, "Our relationship with nature is so deep that our civilizational history is filled with various foundations established for nature. From protecting water sources to cleaning streets, treating sick migratory birds to feeding storks, many environmental foundations have been established in our history. The Zero Waste Project is a small step towards the responsibility of leaving a livable world for future generations."

Emine Erdoğan expressed that nature is a friend entrusted to humanity and that people should treat nature as they would treat a friend. However, she noted that, similar to the rest of the world, the effects of industrialization have altered this understanding. She stated, "As the consumer society has expanded, environmental issues have increased. Modern humans have become alienated from nature and even attempted to dominate it. Today, we need to bridge the distance that has turned nature into 'the other' and regain its friendship. We share the universal values of organizations like the United Nations that offer global solutions, and we want to contribute with our unique cultural experiences."

The award presented to Emine Erdoğan was designed by glass artist Hande Erbük, using recyclable glass and metal materials, symbolizing the delicate balance and fragility of the world.

The ceremony was attended by Murat Kurum, the Minister of Environment and Urbanization, Mehmet Emin Birpınar, the Chief Climate Negotiator and Deputy Minister of Environment and Urbanization, Şahika Ercümen, the UN's Advocate for Life Below Water and World Freediving Record Holder, TEMA Foundation President Deniz Ataç, Aslı Pasinler, General Manager of the Nature Conservation Foundation, Şadan Kaptanoğlu, Chairperson of the Marine Clean Association TURMEPA, as well as UNDP officials and media representatives.

A video showcasing the activities related to the Zero Waste Project was also presented at the event. Following the speeches, Emine Erdoğan posed for a commemorative photo with Minister Kurum and other participants.

National Efforts Under the Zero Waste Project

Under the stewardship of Emine Erdoğan, the Zero Waste Project has established a "Zero Waste Education Portal" in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education and TEMA to provide digital education in schools. To support the ongoing national mobilization, recycling bins have been set up in schools, and in the first half of 2019, training on zero waste was provided to 77,466 students in 252 schools across 20 provinces.

The project's broad outreach has led to significant innovations and changes in environmental legislation. Amendments to the Environmental Law have introduced a recovery contribution fee, measures to reduce the use of plastic bags and packaging, a deposit system, and a zero waste management system. Additionally, as of January 1, 2019, the use of plastic bags for transport at sales points such as markets and stores has been subject to a fee.

To advance the project, the Turkey Environmental Agency was established under the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization in 2020, which started the mandatory deposit system for packaging waste as of 2021.

The Zero Waste Blue Movement Became a National Campaign

To better protect Turkey's seas and coasts from waste, the "Zero Waste Blue" movement was launched in June 2019, leading a national marine cleanliness project involving 760 prominent organizations in Turkey to combat marine pollution, resulting in the removal of tons of waste from the seas. By 2019, the project facilitated the recycling of 4 million 30 thousand tons of recyclable waste into the economy.

Between 2017 and 2020, the Zero Waste Project achieved savings of 397 million tons of raw materials, 315 million kilowatt-hours of energy, 345 million cubic meters of water, and 50 million barrels of oil. During the same period, 17 million tons of usable waste were collected, preventing the emission of 2 billion tons of greenhouse gases and saving 209 million trees. These actions resulted in an economic gain of 17 billion lira. The project's goal is to provide direct employment for 100,000 people and achieve annual savings of 20 billion lira.

As of last year, the Zero Waste Management System has been implemented in 76,000 institutions and organizations, increasing the recovery rate from 13% to 19% since the project's inception. The aim is to reach a recovery rate of 35% for recycled waste by 2023.