Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) participated in the “International Zero Waste Forum” organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, hosted by Zero Waste Foundation under the leadership of Ms. Emine Erdoğan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Ministers, international institution representatives, mayors, academics, private sector representatives, and members of the press came together at the forum. Asst. Prof. Dr. Sinan Uzunçar from the Department of Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering attended the forum on behalf of BEUN.
At the forum with the theme of “Human-Space-Transformation” held in İstanbul, it was aimed to raise awareness and disseminate the sustainable transformation policies about the environment on a global scale.
Emine Erdoğan: “The Capital of Zero Waste Will be İstanbul”
In her opening speech at the Forum, Emine Erdoğan emphasized that it was the beginning of a significant process for the future of humanity and stated the following:
“Today, we are hosting a significant meeting for the future of humanity. I am glad to be here, at the first International Zero Waste Forum, to share the excitement and hope. We established the Zero Waste Foundation to make it a center for global waste studies in Türkiye in 2023. Our foundation supports the activities of our advisory board with passion and high energy. We also established an international center, the Zero Waste Institution, that shares the best applications and policies under our foundation. We announced our Global Zero Waste Awards Project from New York on March 30. We are planning to open a local office in Türkiye for UN-Habitat, which manages the secretariat structure of our foundation with great dedication. I believe every friendship that is formed, every piece of information that is shared, and every step that is taken here will serve to create a better world. Significant steps are being taken to make İstanbul the capital of zero waste. I invite you to be a part of the global zero-waste movement by signing our declaration. I extend my thanks to everyone who attended this event. I extend my gratitude to the Foundation of Zero Waste, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, which led this meaningful organization, and all stakeholders of this event.”
Ministers Shared the Same Emphasis: “We are at the Limit of Consumption”
Highlighting the fact that we are at the limit of consumption, the Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, stated, “Zero waste is the key to a sustainable world”. The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, emphasized the need to reduce the losses along the supply chain from the field to the market, and to promote circular economy models, and intersectoral cooperation.
Rector Özölçer: “We Will Continue to Strengthen the Environmental Awareness as BEUN”
The Rector of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer, extended his gratitude to those who contributed to the organization of the Zero Waste Forum, particularly to Ms. Emine Erdoğan, Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, related ministries, and the Directorate of the Zero Waste Foundation.
Rector Özölçer noted in his statement that BEUN would be an active part of all national and international platforms that strengthen environmental awareness and provide academic contributions. He also stated that the university will continue to contribute to building an environmentally friendly future with its scientific studies in line with sustainable and zero-waste policies.
Conveying his thanks to the academic members of the Department of Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Asst. Prof. Dr. Sinan Uzunçar, who represented the university successfully at the Zero Waste Forum, Rector Prof. Dr. Özölçer emphasized the significance of such programs in carrying the social responsibility approach and academic knowledge of BEUN on the topic of environment into the future.
