By Abbas Nazil
Egypt’s Acting Minister of Environment and Minister of Local Development, Manal Awad, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to sustainability and circular economy practices during the “Zero Waste as a Global Responsibility” forum held in İstanbul, Türkiye.
The event, which ran from October 17 to 19, brought together international leaders, policymakers, and environmental advocates to advance cooperation and share innovative approaches to waste management.
Türkiye’s First Lady and honorary president of the Zero Waste Foundation, Emine Erdoğan, attended the opening session, which highlighted the global urgency of transitioning toward zero-waste societies.
In her remarks, Awad described the forum as a vital international platform for exchanging ideas on sustainable production and consumption systems.
She emphasized that the zero-waste concept goes beyond recycling, focusing on redesigning systems to eliminate waste at its origin and promote long-term environmental balance.
According to Awad, the forum’s sessions explore diverse themes, including policy frameworks to help governments transition to zero-waste economies while balancing environmental objectives with financial realities.
Another key session titled “Cities and the Shift to a Circular Economy” examines how urban centers can lead the transformation through innovative waste management and reuse strategies.
She said success stories from several cities will be shared, demonstrating how local governments are turning environmental challenges into opportunities for economic development.
The session “Financing the Circular Economy” will further discuss the role of sustainable finance in supporting green investments and aligning investor interests with social and environmental benefits.
Awad stressed that Egypt’s participation in the forum reflects its deep alignment with global sustainability initiatives and the government’s ongoing efforts to embed circular economy principles within its national development agenda.
She noted that under President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s leadership, Egypt continues to implement strategies promoting resource efficiency, waste reduction, and green growth as integral parts of its Vision 2030 plan.
The opening session was also attended by Türkiye’s ministers of environment, agriculture, and forestry, the CEO of the Zero Waste Foundation, representatives of the United Nations, the head of UN-Habitat, and delegates from international and local institutions.
Awad expressed confidence that Egypt’s engagement at the forum signals its readiness to collaborate with global partners in shaping an environmentally sustainable and economically inclusive future.