Climate leaders, international organizations, cities, businesses, and implementation partners launched the Istanbul Platform: Zero Waste Package to Accelerate Climate Action, at the Zero Waste Forum, held in Istanbul.
The Istanbul Platform: Zero Waste Package to Accelerate Climate Action is aimed at connecting, strengthening coordination and delivery of zero waste solutions across the Global Climate Action Agenda in the lead-up to COP31 in Antalya, according to the Climate Champions Team.
The Climate High-Level Champions (HLCs) work to mobilize ambitious climate action from businesses, cities, regions, and financial institutions to support governments in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The platform was launched at meeting of stakeholders of the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action
The platform was launched at an in-person strategic coordination meeting of stakeholders of the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action (MPGCA), held as part of the forum.
The MPGCA is a formal UNFCCC framework designed to mobilize and support climate action by non-party stakeholders, including cities, regions, businesses, investors, and civil society.
Launched in 2016 at COP22 by the first two Climate High Level Champions, MPGCA’s primary goal is to bridge government negotiations and real-world implementation, the update reads.
The MPGCA meeting brought together representatives from the Climate Champions Team, key stakeholders, UN entities, climate initiatives, cities, businesses, and delivery partners.
Ağırbaş: The Istanbul Platform – Zero Waste Package will link diverse global solutions on zero waste and circular economy
Samed Ağırbaş, COP31 Climate High-Level Champion and the President of the Zero Waste Foundation, said that the Istanbul Platform – Zero Waste Package will link diverse global solutions on zero waste and circular economy.
“This initiative will accelerate implementation of the Action Agenda, uniting fragmented approaches to effectively reduce emissions,” he explained.
According to Dan Ioschpe, COP30 Climate High-Level Champion and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Iochpe-Maxion, bringing more zero waste initiatives into MPGCA will lead to increased collaboration and strengthened capacity to scale solutions that tackle zero waste and climate together, enhancing the Action Agenda.
A flagship initiative under the Global Climate Action Agenda for COP31
The Zero Waste Package, under the Istanbul Package, is a proposed flagship initiative under the Global Climate Action Agenda for COP31.
Inspired by the Blue Package of ocean-climate solutions, the platform aims to unify fragmented waste prevention, circular economy, sustainable consumption, food systems, and methane reduction efforts, according to the Climate Champions Team.
It positions zero waste and circularity as central, cross-cutting pillars for climate action, mobilizing governments, cities, businesses, finance, civil society, and youth toward measurable outcomes.
Food loss and waste alone respond to 8%–10% of global GHGs
Research suggests that adopting upstream solutions under a zero waste and circular economy approach can mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 15%-20%.
Food loss and waste alone respond to 8%–10% of global GHGs, and represent a growing source of methane emissions. Without additional action, waste methane emissions are projected to increase 13% by 2030 and 56% by 2050 from the 2020 levels.
The package features six strategic objectives—covering mitigation, adaptation, methane reduction, policy integration, finance mobilization, and just transitions—while supporting all six axes of the Action Agenda.
