Turkish President Warns Climate Change Threatens Humanity Like War, Pandemics

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on Sunday that climate change poses a grave threat to humanity, comparing its impact to that of war and global pandemics, while highlighting the achievements of Turkey’s Zero Waste initiative.

“The climate issue is a serious problem that threatens all of humanity, just like war and global pandemics,” Erdogan said at the Zero Waste Forum gala dinner in Istanbul.

He said climate and production issues, from air pollution and food contamination to food shortages, waste management and natural disasters, trigger each other in a “butterfly effect.”

Erdogan said the impact of these problems is being felt more strongly each year across a wide range of sectors, including energy, transport, health, agriculture and livestock.

He said the issue needed to be addressed as a climate crisis rather than just climate change, adding that a clear definition of the problem would help produce more rational solutions.

“We live in an era where artificial intelligence and new technologies accelerate production, while unconscious consumption habits deplete nature,” he added.

Climate injustice

The Turkish president also criticized what he called global inequality in the face of the climate crisis.

“The countries that contribute the most to the worsening climate crisis are also the least affected by this crisis,” Erdogan said.

“On the one hand, millions of people struggle in difficult conditions to find a piece of bread to eat and a sip of water to drink, while on the other hand, luxury and waste continue in all their carelessness,” he added.

Citing a report from the United Nations World Food Program, Erdogan said 43 million children around the world currently suffer from hunger.

He said a third of the food produced each year, or 1.3 billion tonnes, is wasted, while more than 3 million children die each year from hunger-related diseases.

Global waste threat

Erdogan said the waste problem also poses a major global threat.

He spoke of the “waste continent” in the northern Pacific Ocean, which he said was highlighted by first lady Emine Erdogan at the forum’s opening, describing it as a “truly frightening example” of the scale of the problem.

The area, made up of tons of waste and plastic, covers 1.6 million square kilometers, he said.

“The data we have shows that this problem will get worse rather than less,” Erdogan said, adding that global solid waste, which stood at 2.1 billion tons in 2023, is expected to reach 3.8 billion tons by 2050 if no action is taken.

Turkey’s environmental diplomacy

Erdogan said the forum, held at Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport, addressed key issues ranging from the circular economy and climate-friendly production models to transforming waste into economic value and improving resource efficiency.

He noted that the event brought together over 120 ministers from 183 countries, over 200 mayors and over 500 international stakeholders.

“With the participation of more than 5,000 people, from youth organizations to the private sector, civil society groups to policymakers, academics and decision-makers, this forum is a clear indication of the high level Turkey has reached in environmental diplomacy,” Erdogan said.

He said the forum was also important because it focused not only on theoretical discussions, but also on concrete, applicable and measurable solutions.

Erdogan said the forum was of particular importance in the run-up to the COP31 climate summit, which Turkey is expected to host in the Mediterranean city of Antalya in November.

“The mission undertaken by the forum on the road to the COP31 Conference of the Parties, which we will host in Antalya in November, is very, very valuable,” he said.

“In this regard, it was entirely correct and appropriate that the theme of the forum was “The Road to Antalya: Climate Action” via Zero Waste,” he added.

Zero waste movement

Highlighting the international scope of Turkey’s environmental efforts, Erdogan said the zero waste movement has transformed into a global environmental mobilization recognized by the UN.

The movement was launched in 2017 under the leadership of first lady Emine Erdogan, he said.

“In 2022, the declaration of March 30 as International Zero Waste Day in a vote in which Turkey was the main sponsor and 105 countries were co-sponsors became the most precious fruit of these sincere efforts,” Erdogan said.

Turkey views nature as both “a trust from God” and a heritage that must be passed on to future generations, he said, adding that the country is taking necessary measures on environment, climate and waste management.

Erdogan said Turkey is acting on an approach based on green transformation, circular economy and sustainable development, while working intensively to minimize the effects of the climate crisis.

Economic and environmental gains

The President said projects and practices implemented under the Zero Waste initiative have generated substantial economic and environmental benefits.

“Thanks to the projects and practices implemented within the framework of the Zero Waste movement, we have contributed a total of 365 billion Turkish liras to our economy,” he said.

Erdogan said Turkey had recovered 90 million tonnes of waste, avoided the felling of 613 million trees and avoided 180 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the carbon absorption of 36 million trees.

The initiative also helped preserve important natural resources, Erdogan said.

“We have saved 2 trillion liters of water, 270 billion kilowatt hours of energy, 60 billion liters of oil and 390 million cubic meters of landfill space,” he added.

The Turkish president also highlighted continued progress in recycling and resource recovery efforts.

“Our recovery rate, which was 13% in 2017, increased to 37.53% in 2025. We will increase this rate to 60% by 2035 and 70% by 2053,” he said.

Erdogan also expressed hope that the joint declaration and the forum’s outcome document would contribute to further progress in the areas of environment and climate.

The Zero Waste Forum, taking place June 5-7, is led by Turkey’s first lady, Emine Erdogan, who chairs the United Nations High-Level Advisory Council on Zero Waste and is honorary president of the Zero Waste Foundation. The event is supported by United Nations agencies, including the United Nations Environment Program and UN-Habitat.