Ankara (Turkey News) Around the world, nearly 5.8 trillion plate-equivalents of food are wasted every year before reaching those in need. At the same time, 673 million people suffer from hunger, while more than 2 billion people lack adequate nutrition.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the Zero Waste Forum 2026 held in Istanbul, Türkiye’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan emphasized the strategic importance of the Zero Waste movement, calling it an effective tool in the global fight against climate change.
According to media reports, she said that the forum is a historic gathering for the shared future of humanity, bringing together countries and institutions from around the world for a common purpose.
She noted that the participation of 183 countries, more than 500 institutions, and over 5,000 participants demonstrates that environmental issues have now become a shared global challenge.
The First Lady said that Istanbul, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, is hosting this important global forum, which can help promote a new vision for the future.
She praised the efforts of the Zero Waste Foundation, various ministries, and the Istanbul administration, calling it a highly significant international environmental gathering.
In her speech, she referred to a massive 1.6 million square kilometer garbage patch in the North Pacific Ocean, saying it is a clear example of irresponsible human consumption.
She warned that thousands of truckloads of plastic waste are being dumped into oceans every day, describing it not just as a cleaning issue but a serious global crisis.
Emine Erdoğan further said that microplastics have now reached from Antarctica to the heights of Mount Everest, indicating that environmental pollution is no longer limited to any one region but is affecting the entire planet.
