Azerbaijan is represented at the Zero Waste (Sıfır Atık) Forum held in Istanbul
The Zero Waste Forum 2026 is being held in Istanbul. Being held on the theme “Towards Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Activity”, organized by the Zero Waste Foundation (Sıfır Atık Vakfı) founded by First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye Emine Erdoğan, the forum is a high-level platform in promoting the zero waste approach as a practical climate activity on the path leading to COP 31 to be held in Antalya.
The Frum brought together state representatives, ministers, various international organizations, including the UN, business circles, scientific community, financial institutions, and civil society organizations from 183 countries. From Azerbaijan, a delegation led by Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov participates in the Forum.
Along with the pavilion organized by the Zero Waste Foundation of Türkiye, Azerbaijan too is represented at the Forum with its national pavilion. Materials reflecting Azerbaijan’s history, culture, nature, architectural monuments and multicultural values are displayed at the pavilion organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. Moreover, information about our country’s policy aiming at protecting the environment, projects of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation aiming to protect the environment and laying out parks, as well as promoting healthy lifestyle, and restoration and reconstruction works carried out in the deoccupied Karabakh zone are presented at the pavilion.
At COP29 held in Baku, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Zero Waste Foundation were represented by a joint pavilion. Within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, led by First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, and the Zero Waste Foundation, founded by First Lady of Türkiye Emine Erdoğan, have set such targets as creating sustainable solutions while contributing to various areas of the society, at the same time, having cooperation in the protection of the environment, promotion of cultural exchange, and safeguarding cultural heritage.
Special attention has been paid, within the framework of the Zero Waste Forum 2026, to the zero-waste approach as the main climate agenda. Measures such as preventing waste formation, circular economy practices, reduction of food waste and methane emission, measurable practical results in a short span of time by considering execution possibilities on a city level have been the focus of attention during the discussions. The event serves the strengthening of cooperation in ensuring the zero waste, widening partnerships, and defining practical execution mechanisms.
The forum is of crucial significance in terms of ensuring preparation for execution on the eve of COP31 global climate conference to be hosted by Antalya city of Türkiye in 2026, and strengthening the participation of interested parties.
Holding of high-level sessions related to such areas as industry and technology, agriculture and forestry, as well as energy and natural resources is expected to take place at the forum, which will continue until June 7. In addition, considering the urgency of removing food wastes as a climate opportunity with high effectiveness and short-term result, one day will be devoted, within the framework of the forum, to the theme “Food wastes and methane”.
Preparation of a number of significant documents and initiatives are expected within the framework of the forum.
