Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) academics participated on behalf of our university in the international forum themed “Zero Waste Forum 2026: The Road to Antalya – Zero Waste as Climate Action” organized by the Zero Waste Foundation between June 5-7, 2026, at Istanbul Atatürk Airport.
The forum, held under the patronage of our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s wife, Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, became an important platform for sharing information and experiences on globally significant topics such as combating climate change, circular economy, sustainable development, climate finance, and zero waste policies.
Our university's Sustainability Coordinator Dr. Faculty Member Kübra Ertan Türe, Instructor Fatma Şeyma Keskin, and Instructor İkramiye Değer had the opportunity to gain insights into current approaches in sustainability, international practices, and policy recommendations by following the sessions held during the forum.
In the sessions held at the forum, topics such as the integration of circular economy practices in cities with climate action, the role of zero waste strategies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the contribution of climate finance to sustainable transformation processes, and the importance of local communities in climate policies were highlighted. Additionally, international collaborations, policy development processes, and innovative practices for achieving sustainable development goals were discussed.
In the panels organized within the forum, current topics such as sustainable water management, the role of scientific research in waste management, methods used in the evaluation of organic waste, deposit return systems, and reuse models were evaluated. In the sessions, solution proposals for increasing resource efficiency, preventing waste generation, promoting circular economy practices, and creating resilient systems against climate change were shared.
Throughout the forum, information and experience sharing took place among representatives from public institutions, academia, the private sector, and civil society, discussing good practice examples on a global scale. Furthermore, the forum served as an important platform contributing to international policy dialogues and preparation processes by highlighting the role of the zero waste approach in climate action ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) to be held in Antalya in 2026.
Within the framework of the forum, contributions were made to the social media awareness campaign themed around sustainable development, resource efficiency, and climate action conducted by the United Nations Turkey. Our university's Sustainability Coordinator Dr. Faculty Member Kübra Ertan Türe shared the message “It’s not just a plate, a future is in your hands! Stop waste, sustain resources!” while Instructor İkramiye Değer emphasized the importance of sustainable consumption habits with the message “Food waste does not forgive.” The participation of our academics in the campaign was a sign of support for international awareness efforts aimed at strengthening individual and institutional responsibility in line with sustainable development goals.
A meeting was held between the President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion Samed Ağırbaş and our university's Sustainability Coordinator Dr. Faculty Member Kübra Ertan Türe regarding the planned “Waste and Waste from Local to National” themed Zero Waste Workshop to be hosted by our university.
