Zero Waste Foundation Launches Ethiopia Cooperation Ahead of COP31, COP32
Meetings held in Addis Ababa mark the start of a joint working process between the Zero Waste Foundation and the Government of Ethiopia, positioning the city as a bridge between Türkiye's COP31 host role and Africa's climate agenda.
The Zero Waste Foundation has launched a new cooperation process with Ethiopia, linking Türkiye’s preparations for COP31 with Africa’s climate priorities and laying groundwork for collaboration toward COP32, following a series of meetings held in Addis Ababa on June 16, 2026.
Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, held the meetings as part of efforts to strengthen climate cooperation between Türkiye, Ethiopia and African institutions. Discussions covered Türkiye’s COP31 preparations, the global reach of the Zero Waste Movement, circular economy-based climate action, and Africa’s sustainable development priorities.
Ağırbaş opened his programme with Gedion Timothewos, Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and COP32 President, discussing plans for an Africa meeting under the Zero Waste Forum and possible areas of cooperation during the transition between the two COP presidencies. The talks also explored joint work on resource efficiency, circular economy practices and regional coordination on climate resilience.
Ağırbaş later met Ambassador Berk Baran, Türkiye’s envoy to Ethiopia and its Permanent Representative to the African Union, to discuss Türkiye’s environmental and climate diplomacy with the AU and preparations for the Zero Waste Forum. He also met Australia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Dr. Peter Hunter, alongside Baran, to discuss multilateral climate cooperation involving the African Union, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and other regional organisations.
In a separate meeting with Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Ağırbaş discussed Africa’s sustainable development goals, climate resilience, access to climate finance, resource efficiency, and the continent’s representation in global climate processes. These discussions are expected to shape the planned Africa meeting under the Zero Waste Forum, envisioned as a multi-stakeholder platform bringing together governments, international organisations, local authorities, academia, civil society and the private sector to carry Africa’s climate priorities into global discussions on waste management, sustainable cities, green development and financing.
Ağırbaş also met Dr. Fitsum Assefa, Ethiopia’s Minister of Planning and Development, to review the country’s climate-resilient green economy approach, renewable energy investments, sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration efforts, as well as potential joint projects and capacity-building opportunities between the Foundation and the Ethiopian government.
The Zero Waste Movement gained international visibility under the patronage of Emine Erdoğan, Chair of the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Zero Waste and founder of the movement, and is positioned as a model for resource efficiency, circular economy development and climate resilience. Through the Zero Waste Forum and its engagement with COP31, the Foundation says it aims to connect global climate diplomacy with implementation-focused solutions, contributing to a broader cooperation agenda across Africa ahead of COP32.
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