Azerbaijan Actively Participates in Zero Waste Forum 2026 in Istanbul as Global Leaders Gather for Climate Action
Istanbul, The Gulf Observer: The Zero Waste Forum 2026 has officially commenced in Istanbul under the theme “Road to Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Action,” with strong international participation and active engagement from Azerbaijan alongside global stakeholders.
Organized by the Zero Waste Foundation, established under the initiative of Emine Erdoğan, the forum provides a high-level platform to promote zero-waste policies as a practical climate action tool ahead of COP31, which will be hosted in Antalya later this year.
The event has brought together ministers and representatives from 183 countries, as well as participants from the United Nations, financial institutions, scientific communities, business leaders, and civil society organizations.
Azerbaijan is participating prominently in the forum with a delegation led by Anar Alakbarov, who also serves as Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
Alongside Türkiye’s Zero Waste Foundation pavilion, Azerbaijan has established its own national pavilion curated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The pavilion highlights Azerbaijan’s rich history, cultural heritage, natural landscapes, architectural legacy, and multicultural values.
It also presents detailed information on Azerbaijan’s environmental protection strategies, ecological initiatives led by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, urban park development projects, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and ongoing reconstruction and restoration efforts in the liberated Garabagh region.
The engagement reflects deepening cooperation between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Türkiye’s Zero Waste Foundation. The two institutions previously collaborated with a joint pavilion during COP29 in Baku. Under a 2024 memorandum of understanding, the foundation led by Mehriban Aliyeva and the Zero Waste Foundation agreed to strengthen cooperation in sustainable development, environmental protection, cultural exchange, and heritage preservation.
Throughout the forum, discussions are focused on integrating zero-waste approaches into the global climate agenda, with emphasis on waste prevention, circular economy models, food waste reduction, and methane emission mitigation.
Organizers stress that the primary goal is to achieve practical, measurable outcomes, particularly through implementation at the city and municipal levels.
The forum, running until June 7, features high-level thematic sessions on industry and technology, agriculture and forestry, energy, and natural resources. A dedicated focus day on “Food Waste and Methane” addresses one of the most critical climate-related challenges.
Several declarations, policy documents, and regional initiatives are expected to be finalized before the conclusion of the event, further strengthening international cooperation on sustainability and climate action, with Azerbaijan playing an active and visible role.
