Head of Communications Duran: Zero Waste approach has become the global norm

Director of Communications Duran spoke at the "From Zero Waste to COP31: Türkiye's Climate Diplomacy" panel organized by the Directorate of Communications.

Stating that the consequences of climate change are already being experienced, Duran said, "As a solution, we need international policies that consider a balance between countries' sovereign rights and global responsibilities. We should not ignore the need for social justice between countries. We need an area where scientific knowledge is carried into political decision-making processes without being manipulated. At this point, countries with more responsibilities are expected to build a greater capacity in terms of technology transfer and climate finance." he said.

When it comes to national interests, we need a fair negotiation regime. This issue is perhaps one of the most important global issues before COP 31. This call for justice is also directly related to our President's call for global justice. As a matter of fact, global climate management has turned into a multi-level "governance" that goes beyond nation states and includes NGOs and multinational companies. Famous Political Scientist Joseph Nye defines climate change as "a security threat multiplier" rather than an ecological crisis.

Therefore, we are not talking about technical issues that are subject to expertise. We are talking about “a governance process” that is directly related to global justice and equity. I must remind you that conflicts occurring in different geographies have extremely negative effects on environmental and climatic conditions. Israel's unlawful attacks on Gaza not only threaten human life, but also deepen the climate crisis with intense greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. It is stated that the carbon emissions caused by Israel's attacks since October 7 exceed the annual carbon emissions of hundreds of countries. This shows that Israel's attacks on Gaza pose a serious threat not only to regional peace and security, but also to the global climate and our future.

As Turkey, we adopt a holistic approach in the fight against climate change. We ratified the Paris Agreement in 2021. Our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's 2053 net zero emission target shows our determination to fight the climate crisis. In line with these goals, increasing energy efficiency, disseminating renewable energy resources, reducing the carbon footprint in industry, developing sustainable agricultural practices and protecting natural areas are among our priority policy areas. The Zero Waste movement, carried out under the auspices and leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, makes significant contributions to the climate fight. The declaration of March 30 as International Zero Waste Day by the United Nations General Assembly, under the leadership of Turkey and with the support of 105 countries, reflects our country's success in this field. The transformation of Mrs. First Lady Erdoğan's Zero Waste approach into a global norm has given Turkey a unique soft power in climate diplomacy.

Source: TRT Haber Açık RSS (Gündem) (Open Press / Translated Full Text)