Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, held a series of diplomatic meetings on the sidelines of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

13 November 2024

The Minister participated in the "World Leaders Climate Action Summit" session, which featured a keynote address by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During the opening of the High-Level Segment, Minister Kurum presented Türkiye’s formal declaration regarding its vision for combating climate change. Minister Kurum, alongside First Lady Emine Erdoğan—attending in her capacity as Chairperson of the UN Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste—met with Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
During the meeting, Steiner emphasized that the First Lady's leadership and initiatives regarding Zero Waste are both significant and inspiring. Following the discussions, Steiner formally signed the "Global Zero Waste Goodwill Declaration."

Minister Kurum and Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation, provided Steiner with specific examples of Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to combat climate change.

YOUTH AS PIONEERS OF CLIMATE ACTION PROGRAM

Minister Kurum later attended the "Youth as Pioneers of Climate Action Program," joined by Emine Erdoğan and the spouses of various heads of state participating in COP29. During the event, he signed the "Strategy for Promoting a Culture of Sustainable Development and Involvement of Children and Youth in the Climate Agenda for 2024-2030."

The strategy, signed by Türkiye alongside Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Hungary, includes steps to enhance the role of children and youth in climate action and establishes initiatives such as student exchange ambassadors.

ZERO WASTE PAVILION INAUGURATED

Minister Kurum and the First Lady subsequently held the official opening of the Zero Waste Pavilion. The Minister briefed the spouses of world leaders on the progress of Türkiye’s Zero Waste initiatives.

Source: Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change