Presidency's Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun shared a post on his social media account regarding the "Zero Waste" pavilion of Türkiye, which is set up by the Directorate of Communications as part of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which has been held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
In his post, Head of Communications Altun noted:
"The 'Zero Waste' pavilion of Türkiye, which was set up by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications as part of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, has garnered significant attention and interest from the participants.
Providing an overview of Türkiye's climate change and environmental policies and initiatives, the pavilion also emphasises showcasing the global community of Türkiye's unparalleled green capital and its leading role in building a green future.
We reiterate our country's resolute stance in accordance with the 2053 Net-Zero Target in the areas of zero waste and global climate crises, which acknowledges the crucial role of nature, has made environmental sensitivity a top priority in its policies, and is dedicated to making sure that future generations inherit a green world.
Under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we are making every effort to render the world—not just our country—cleaner, greener, and more habitable when it comes to the environment and climate change.
We are engaged in an extensive effort to spread the "Zero Waste" movement, which was initiated under the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, across all sectors of our country.
In conjunction with our active combat against pollution, we will continue to strive to preserve our environment, which encompasses our forests, agricultural areas, biodiversity, and the sea, in an effort to ensure that we pass down a world that is habitable for future generations."
"Zero Waste" pavilion at COP29 garners great interest
The participants have shown a great deal of interest in the 'Zero Waste' pavilion of Türkiye, which was set up by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications as part of the UNFCCC COP29 held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
One of the most significant events for the global discussion of climate change issues, COP29, is currently in progress, with 72,000 participants from 169 countries.
Along with many talks and negotiations, various countries and organisations are promoting climate change-related solutions and initiatives through the pavilions they set up at COP29.
The Turkish pavilion, set up by our Directorate with the central theme of "Zero Waste" in the Green Zone of COP29, informs visitors about the Zero Waste Project initiated by First Lady Emine Erdoğan of Türkiye, who is the Chairperson of the UN Zero Waste Advisory Board.
Participants exhibit significant interest in the pavilion, which captivates with its design and aesthetics, showcasing Türkiye's initiatives on environmental issues and climate change through visuals with 3D videos, infographics, and short films. Participants, intrigued by the digital promotions and informed by the staff, photograph themselves in front of the pavilion.
The pavilion organises events with various content on climate change and green energy, as well as sharing digital visual works with participants to promote Türkiye's recent initiatives and projects, particularly on climate change, the Zero Waste Project, and renewable energy. Throughout the event, participants may also explore the pavilion's digital holographic exhibition on Türkiye's endemic plants and endangered animal species.
The pavilion showcases the work conducted under the Local Seed Project, initiated under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan, along with local seeds that symbolise Türkiye's agricultural heritage, and also features an exhibition entitled "From Waste to Art," comprising items crafted from recycled fabric, paper, and organic materials.
The "Green Türkiye Exhibition" created digitally in the pavilion introduces Türkiye's green capital. The exhibition aims to raise awareness about topics such as building a greener world for the planet's future, creating a healthy ecological environment, safeguarding biodiversity for a sustainable and balanced future, and viewing it as a common cultural heritage.
Visitors to the pavilion can learn about Türkiye's efforts to mitigate water losses, including the "Water Efficiency Campaign," initiated under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan.
The Turkish pavilion promotes publications produced by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, including The World is Our Common Home, Türkiye, Secrets of Türkiye, Türkiye's Green Development Initiative, Secrets of Azerbaijan, Türkiye's Environmental Mobilization in the 21st Century, and Türkiye's Zero Waste Journey for a Habitable World.
The pavilion features President Erdoğan's statement, which reads, "We cannot leave our children a world engulfed in pollution due to exhausted natural resources and reckless consumption. With this understanding and the aspiration for a fairer and more livable world, we have elevated the Zero Waste movement, an initiative launched in our country under the leadership of my spouse, First Lady Emine Erdoğan, to a global scale with the UN resolution co-sponsored by 105 countries."
Furthermore, the visuals feature First Lady Emine Erdoğan's remarks, "We need to initiate a change right now if we want to have answers to give to future generations. We need to do something today. And I would like to appeal to those who think, ‘Am I the one to save the world?’ Yes, you are. We are going to save the world. We are the last generation to reverse the trend." Additionally, the "Global Commitment to Zero Waste," opened for signature by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Chair of the UN Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste First Lady Emine Erdoğan, is available for digital signature by pavilion visitors.
"We aim to highlight Türkiye's leading role"
In his assessment, Head of Communications Altun underscored that COP29, hosted by the friendly and brotherly country of Azerbaijan with the participation of 169 nations, stands as one of the most significant organisations globally, showcasing the significance of international cooperation under the theme "The World is Our Common Home."
Head of Communications Altun recalled the "Stratcom Public Forum: Strategic Communication in the Global Climate Crisis," organised by the Directorate of Communications on November 11, 2024, in Baku, on the sidelines of COP29, and conveyed that at the meeting, leading environment and climate change researchers and experts from various countries, particularly from Türkiye and Azerbaijan, as well as representatives from the fields of media and communication, discussed environment and climate change issues from different perspectives.
Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun announced that as the Directorate of Communications, they have set up a booth in the Green Zone at the COP29 event area, using cutting-edge digital imaging technologies to showcase to the participants Türkiye's efforts on issues such as environment, climate change, renewable energy, sustainability, and recycling. He further noted that the booth featured the Zero Waste Project, which has become a global brand under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan.
Altun expressed his satisfaction with the interest shown at the booth, which garnered admiration from foreign participants due to its original design, 3D visuals, holograms, and special exhibitions. He stated, "At our booth, we explain our country's policies and initiatives on environment and climate change. At the centre of our booth is a tree that breathes life into the world, a legacy for generations to come, the most precious gift the earth has to offer. Through our booth, we seek to showcase Türkiye's distinctive green wealth to the global audience while highlighting the country's pivotal role in building a green future. We reiterate our country's resolute stance in accordance with the 2053 Net-Zero Target in the areas of zero waste and global climate crises, which acknowledges the crucial role of nature, has made environmental sensitivity a top priority in its policies, and is dedicated to making sure that future generations inherit a green world."
"We are making every effort to render the world cleaner, greener and more habitable"
Emphasising the necessity for all parties to collaborate and adopt a holistic approach in response to the global climate crisis, Head of Communications Altun stated:
"Climate change is a global issue. It is one of the most significant challenges facing our world. Actions taken by only a handful of countries will not lead to a solution for this issue. Climate change requires total solidarity, global cooperation, and the determination of all countries. Under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we are making every effort to render the world—not just our country—cleaner, greener, and more habitable when it comes to the environment and climate change.
Alongside our commitment to signing significant climate agreements, we are making investments in renewable energy sources and engaging in numerous initiatives aimed at fostering a sustainable environment and enhancing energy efficiency. We are diligently working to promote the zero-waste movement initiated by First Lady Emine Erdoğan across all sectors in our country. We are striving to combat environmental pollution and doing everything we can to maintain our environment, including our seas, forests, agricultural lands, and biodiversity."
