Emine Erdoğan, speaking at the 6th Social Benefit Summit organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and TBWA/FORGOOD, highlighted the shared goal of all participants: "To find the shortest path to goodness to make the world a better place." 

She emphasized that every step taken today shapes the next few thousand years, stating, "Therefore, not only 2030 but also 2050 and 2070 are essentially now. The environmental crisis we face today is the accumulation of a long process. Thus, the warnings from scientists about the near future should shape all our current behaviors."

Regarding the Zero Waste Project, Emine Erdoğan pointed out the importance of addressing future climate migrations, saying, "If global temperatures do not remain below the 1.5-degree threshold, many places in the world will become uninhabitable. This means people will migrate in masses to find livable land and water. That is why we said, 'Let's start somewhere,' and initiated the Zero Waste initiative in 2017. We cannot leave a country marked by pollution from unconscious consumption and depleted natural resources as an inheritance to our children. With the Zero Waste Project, we aim not only to manage our waste but also to ensure that production is aligned with the principles of sustainable development. By 2023, we will increase our recovery rate to 35%. We aim to provide an annual economic gain of 20 billion lira and create employment for 100,000 people. Transitioning to a green economy is a necessity for making the world livable for everyone. With a green economy, income and employment can increase, and access to clean water and energy can be improved."

Emine Erdoğan emphasized the importance of collaboration with civil society organizations, highlighting various initiatives such as the TEMA and Ministry of National Education partnership, which provided "zero waste education" to 280,000 children in 20 pilot schools over three months. She also noted the Natural Life Protection Foundation's campaign to reduce single-use plastics and paper in restaurants, TURMEPA's coastal clean-up efforts to address marine waste issues, and the Çöpüne Sahip Çık Foundation's focus on cigarette butt pollution. Additionally, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change has reached 2 million people through educational and awareness-raising initiatives.

She remarked on the paradox of living in a time of advanced technology, stating, "The way we use and shape this gift will determine the evaluation of this century." Emine Erdoğan pointed out that while communication has reached unprecedented levels, human communication is unfortunately declining, as evidenced by the ongoing humanitarian crises and the prevalence of misinformation in the rapid dissemination of news. She described this era as one marked by "post-truth reality."

Emine Erdoğan emphasized the need to shape rather than succumb to the changes of our time, stating that "the relationship we establish with the world, in all its human, diplomatic, and environmental aspects, should be shaped on a high moral foundation." She argued that technological advancement should not solely focus on creating equipped robots but must also preserve and enhance human spiritual and moral capacities. She described the transition from a consumer society to a production society as a necessary bridge.

Referencing Yaşar Kemal's quote, "Life is to produce hope out of despair," she expressed the importance of remaining hopeful in the face of global threats. Emine Erdoğan stated that solving issues ranging from humanitarian crises to environmental challenges depends on our awareness and sense of responsibility. She emphasized the responsibility to build a better future for generations not yet born and to repay the gift of life we have been given.

Concluding her remarks, she highlighted the interconnectedness of humanity, saying that an act of kindness in one corner of the world benefits all. Quoting Mevlana, she noted, "One candle does not lose its light by lighting another," urging for collaborative efforts toward a better future, recognizing that we are one global family beyond national borders.