Turkey's First Lady Urges Shift From 'Throwaway Culture' to Sustainable Consumption

Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan has called for a shift away from "throwaway culture" toward more sustainable consumption, saying a zero-waste approach should be advanced as part of the action agenda at the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference, according to Anadolu Agency.

Erdogan said the shift should be a concrete policy priority at the summit, stressing a direct link between resource use, energy consumption and the broader climate crisis. She has been a prominent advocate for Turkey's Zero Waste Project, a national initiative she has championed since 2017 aimed at cutting waste generation and improving recycling nationwide.

The comments come as the UN Climate Change Conference, held annually under the Conference of the Parties (COP) process, prepares to bring together government delegations, businesses and civil society groups to negotiate emissions-reduction commitments and climate financing.

Consumption patterns have increasingly featured in international climate discussions, with researchers pointing to the production, transport and disposal of consumer goods as a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Advocates of zero-waste and circular-economy models argue that reducing waste at the source can meaningfully lower a country's environmental footprint.

Turkey has positioned its Zero Waste Project as a model it hopes other nations will adopt, and Erdogan has previously promoted the initiative at international forums, including at the United Nations.