Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, attended the promotional meeting for the "Zero Waste Education Project," which was initiated under the Zero Waste Project she launched, in collaboration with TEMA Foundation, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the Ministry of National Education, and Tetra Pak Turkey. 

In her speech at the meeting, Emine Erdoğan emphasized that the sole condition for the success of the Zero Waste Project is the cooperation of all stakeholders, expressing her gratitude to TEMA Foundation and Tetra Pak for their unwavering support.

Emine Erdoğan stated, "TEMA Foundation has made a significant contribution to the education of our children within the Zero Waste Project, developed in collaboration with our Ministries of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and National Education." She continued: "The Zero Waste Education Project is currently being widely implemented in schools across 20 of our provinces. The goal is to provide zero waste education to 280,000 children in a short period of three years. I am aware that our Ministry of National Education is also providing education on environmental awareness. The environmental crisis is one of the most frequently discussed topics today. We are witnessing firsthand the consequences of our world having warmed compared to before the industrial revolution. We are experiencing increasingly severe events resulting in disasters such as drought, desertification, floods, and rising sea levels. We are losing the world. The significant changes in humanity's experience over thousands of years have led to disruptions in some natural balances."

"IF HUMANITY WANTS TO UNDERSTAND THE POINT WE HAVE REACHED, WE MUST LOOK AT THE STATE OF NATURE"

Emine Erdoğan expressed that the Industrial Revolution was a turning point that fundamentally disrupted the human-nature relationship, noting that the economy has been shaped around the production of short-lived products that promote continuous consumption. She emphasized that all societies in the world have transformed into fast-consumption societies, with natural resources being destroyed as if there were no future. 

She stated, "If humanity wants to understand the point we have reached, it is enough to look at the state of nature. The very existence of the term 'nature lover' makes us think that loving nature is one of the two options before us. Protecting the environment is not a choice; it is a necessity. Our relationship with the environment is fundamentally a moral issue. In the conditions of our age, we must strive more than ever to teach our children about nature. The concept of zero waste is essentially an effort to spread a new culture of living that can manage the waste we produce every day. Let’s assume that an average person produces 1.5 kilos of waste daily. Specializing in managing one’s own waste greatly facilitates dealing with the waste problem. In the education we provide to our children, we teach them to think before consuming. This eliminates the unconscious behavior of always consuming. By triggering critical thinking, we enhance their sense of responsibility. In other words, our children gain the awareness to evaluate the harm they may cause to the environment when using a plastic bottle."

Emine Erdoğan expressed the importance of instilling the reflex of consuming less in children, stating, "We want to impart the wisdom from Gandhi's famous saying as a moral compass for our children: 'Live simply so that others may simply live.' Children who acquire this conscience will ensure the transfer of natural resources to the generations that follow them. The next step is to reuse." 

“WITH THE ZERO WASTE EDUCATION PROJECT, A CONSCIOUS AND RESPONSIBLE NEW GENERATION IS BEING RAISED”

She noted that most materials categorized as trash today consist of products that have not yet reached the end of their life cycle, saying, "However, we see everything as waste because we are surrounded by disposable products. We don't even consider extending their life cycles. Fortunately, thanks to this education, children with a different mindset will be raised. Their definition of waste will be different from ours. The final phase of this education, which is the philosophy of 'returning to nature,' aims to reduce resource consumption through recycling. With the Zero Waste Education Project, defined by the 5D philosophy, a conscious and responsible new generation is being raised. In other words, we are nurturing a generation that is ecologically literate."

Emine Erdoğan emphasized that the environmental crisis is fundamentally a result of a lack of education, continuing: "I believe that instilling environmental awareness is an investment that will yield remarkable transformations in the long run. Of course, as much as we instill ecological literacy in our children, we must also seek ways to make everyone, regardless of their profession or age group, ecologically literate. I currently believe that ecological literacy is more important and urgent than any other form of literacy. Before concluding my remarks, I would like to say a few words to all children here. Precious children, the future is yours. Air, soil, and water are yours. You deserve a world not burdened by depleted and weary resources but filled with a bright blue sky, fertile lands, and lush forests. You deserve to live in a world where endangered species exist, not just in the pages of books. You have the right to breathe clean air, drink clear water, and eat natural food. Together with us adults and you dear children, we will build the beautiful days of the future. Protect nature. Nature is your treasure. With this awareness, I believe that 2023 will be the year our country achieves its zero waste goals."

Emine Erdoğan concluded her remarks by expressing her hopes for military and diplomatic initiatives that will make Turkey's southern borders a land of peace and tranquility. She stated, "I wish that these efforts will bring goodness to our country and the people of the region. Turkey's rightful struggle will be better understood over the years. I thank our strong state, our heroic army, and our dear nation for their resolute attitude, resilience, and solidarity during this process."

After the speeches, Emine Erdoğan received a certificate of tree donation from Nejat Çalışkan, General Manager of Tetra Pak Turkey, and Deniz Ataç, Chairman of the Board of TEMA Foundation, along with a drawing from a student that depicted a clean world.

Source: [TCCB](https://www.tccb.gov.tr/haberler)