The Zero Waste Forum 2026 in Istanbul marked a pivotal moment in global environmental diplomacy ahead of COP31, shifting zero waste from a niche waste management topic to a central climate action strategy. More than 120 ministers from 183 countries, alongside 5,000 participants, convened to refine implementation pathways rather than negotiate formal agreements. The event served as a rehearsal for COP31’s implementation-focused agenda, emphasizing prevention, systems change, and scalable solutions across sectors.
Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, framed the forum as a bridge between stakeholder priorities and concrete action. “The forum helped accelerate coordination, strengthen partnerships, and increase implementation readiness,” he said, highlighting its role in aligning multi-stakeholder platforms with COP31’s goals. Under the vision of H.E. Emine Erdoğan, the Zero Waste Movement’s founder, the event positioned zero waste as a cross-cutting climate tool with measurable impact.
High-level attendees included former presidents, royalty, and ministers from agriculture, energy, and water sectors, underscoring the forum’s broad reach. A three-day program with 247 speakers addressed systemic challenges, particularly food waste’s methane emissions, with a dedicated thematic day on prevention and recovery. Sector-specific ministerial sessions in industry, agriculture, and energy outlined leadership pathways, while practical outputs like the *Road to Antalya Declaration* and *Food Waste and Methane Action Guide* provided actionable frameworks.
Zero Waste Week’s public festival complemented the forum, merging policy dialogue with grassroots engagement. By mobilizing non-state actors and curating implementation-ready projects, the event demonstrated how zero waste can integrate into the UNFCCC’s climate action architecture. As COP31 approaches, the forum’s legacy lies in its ability to translate high-level intent into tangible, replicable solutions—challenging the sector to move beyond rhetoric and deliver measurable progress.