Spouses of the world leaders and senior international officials have voiced strong support for the newly launched Global Zero Waste Alliance, describing an initiative spearheaded by Türkiye’s First Lady Emine Erdogan as an international movement capable of driving collective action against the mounting waste crisis.
Speaking at the High-Level Meeting of Spouses of Heads of State and Government, held on Friday on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, participants welcomed the alliance and called for stronger partnerships, sustainable financing and greater public participation to advance its goals.
Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, wife of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, praised Erdogan’s leadership, saying the zero waste initiative had evolved into an international movement.
"The zero waste initiative that began under your leadership has today turned into an international movement," she said, expressing Uzbekistan’s full support for the establishment of the Global Zero Waste Alliance.
Mirziyoyeva said the initiative was rooted in valuing nature’s resources, preventing waste and fulfilling responsibilities towards future generations.
She warned that rising populations and consumption were contributing to growing volumes of waste, citing UN Environment Programme estimates that global municipal solid waste could reach 3.8 billion tonnes annually by 2050.
She also highlighted the estimated one billion tonnes of food wasted worldwide each year as a serious cause for concern.
Noting that the effects of the climate crisis were becoming increasingly severe in Central Asia, Mirziyoyeva said environmental protection and climate adaptation had become key priorities of Uzbekistan’s national policy.
‘Truly inspiring’
Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, also welcomed the alliance, describing Erdogan’s leadership in advancing the zero waste agenda as "truly inspiring".
She said the initiative aligned with Bangladesh’s vision of a cleaner environment, healthier communities and a sustainable future.
However, she stressed that achieving zero waste required international cooperation, including affordable climate financing, technology transfers and capacity-building support.
Rahman also called for greater youth participation, saying young people should not only be tomorrow’s leaders but also part of finding solutions today.
Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of UN-Habitat, congratulated the initiative on becoming a global movement, highlighting the importance of supporting municipalities in developing cleaner and more sustainable cities.
She said UN-Habitat was working with local authorities to assess waste management systems and expand services, while stressing the critical role of women in driving change within communities and households.
Rossbach said the new alliance could help bring political leaders and technical experts together, adding that UN-Habitat was ready to contribute to its efforts.
International agenda
Alexander De Croo, administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), also welcomed the initiative, thanking Erdogan for placing zero waste and environmental action on the international agenda.
He highlighted the link between waste and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, stressing that reducing food waste was crucial to cutting emissions.
De Croo said the circular economy could make a significant contribution to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Janja Lula da Silva, wife of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, outlined the challenges facing her country, which generates approximately 90 million tonnes of waste annually.
She said less than 4 percent of that waste was recycled or reused, despite Brazil having established a national solid waste policy in 2010 that prioritises waste reduction, reuse and recycling.
Silva said the policy also established shared responsibilities across the production and consumption chain, requiring reverse logistics systems for certain products, including electronics and medicines.
She warned that inefficient recycling practices were costing Brazil approximately 120 billion annually, highlighting the economic as well as environmental consequences of inadequate waste management.
Collective action
Sajidha Mohamed, first lady of the Maldives, described environmental sustainability as an existential issue for her country, whose fragile ecosystems face growing threats from waste, particularly plastic pollution.
She warned that marine debris was damaging coral reefs and disrupting food chains, praising Erdogan’s leadership in advancing the global waste movement.
Mohamed said the Global Zero Waste Alliance offered an important opportunity to translate shared goals into collective action, adding that she strongly supported its vision and objectives.
Ancelly Simina, wife of Micronesian President Wesley W. Simina, said effective waste management was essential to protecting the environment, safeguarding public health and securing a sustainable future for island communities.
She outlined her country's focus on policymaking, public awareness, landfill management, disposal and recycling, stressing that the transition towards zero waste required sustained commitment and active participation across society.
Zeinab Suleman, daughter-in-law of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also expressed Pakistan's support for the alliance, highlighting the links between environmental responsibility, public health, economic opportunities and human dignity.
She called for schools and households to adopt better purchasing and food storage practices to prevent food waste, alongside waste separation, reuse and recycling.
Suleman also stressed the importance of involving local communities in environmental initiatives and ensuring safer working conditions, saying Pakistan was ready to share experiences and practical results with other countries.
She suggested that participating countries could present their progress and implementation outcomes at COP32.
Meanwhile, Gueta Selemane Chapo, wife of Mozambican President Daniel Chapo, said climate justice could not be achieved while millions of people went hungry and food, water and natural resources continued to be wasted.
She described protecting resources for future generations, including those not yet born, as one of the greatest challenges facing the current generation.
The meeting also heard from Nilden Bektaş Erhurman, wife of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Tufan Erhurman, and Francine Ntakarutimana of Burundi, among other participants.
The launch of the Global Zero Waste Alliance at COP31 marks a further step in efforts to expand international cooperation on waste reduction, recycling and sustainable consumption.
