ÇAKÜ Represented at Zero Waste Forum 2026

Çankırı Karatekin University participated in the Zero Waste Forum 2026, held at Istanbul Atatürk Airport between 5-7 June 2026, through the members of the Waste Management Advisory Board.

At the forum of our university, Chairman of the Waste Management Advisory Board Prof. Dr. Alpaslan Kuşvuran and board members Prof. Dr. Umut Peking Timur and Lecturer. See. Dr. Represented by Elif Paçal. Additionally, our faculty members Assoc. Dr. Dilek Öcalan and Dr. Lecturer Member Gamze Tuttu also attended the forum.

The forum, held under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, founder of the Zero Waste Movement and Honorary President of the Zero Waste Foundation, hosted an important meeting on an international scale in the field of environment and sustainability. Within the scope of the forum, representatives from 183 countries, more than 500 institutions and organizations and more than 5 thousand participants came together for a sustainable future.

At the forum held with the theme "Road to Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Action", the role of the zero waste approach in protecting the environment, increasing resource efficiency, developing a circular economy and combating climate change was discussed. It was emphasized that the forum is an important platform contributing to the climate action and sustainability agenda before the COP31 United Nations Climate Change Conference, which Turkey will host in Antalya in November 2026.

Speaking at the opening program, First Lady Erdoğan said that the zero waste approach is not only an application for the management of waste; He also stated that it is a global transformation movement that aims to use resources efficiently, prevent waste and spread the culture of sustainable living. Erdogan also drew attention to the importance of international cooperation in strengthening environmental awareness and combating the climate crisis.

In the panels, conferences and sessions held throughout the forum; Topics such as combating climate change, circular economy, sustainable production and consumption models, energy and resource efficiency, waste reduction, recycling technologies and sustainable cities were discussed. Information and experience were shared between academics, public institutions, international organizations, local governments, private sector representatives and non-governmental organizations.

Çankırı Karatekin University Waste Management Advisory Board members came together with participants from different countries and institutions within the scope of the forum and evaluated current approaches to sustainable campus practices, waste management strategies and environmental awareness studies. In addition, views were exchanged on the dissemination of sustainability culture in universities, the development of zero waste practices and possible collaborations in the field of environmental management.

It is aimed that the knowledge and experiences gained at the forum will contribute to the zero waste, environmental management and sustainability studies carried out at our university. Çankırı Karatekin University considers developing an environmentally friendly and sustainable campus approach, disseminating zero waste culture and contributing to sustainable development goals among its primary responsibilities; In this regard, it continues to actively take part in national and international platforms.