Türkiye's climate envoy meets World Bank, WRI in Washington
2026-02-22 - 17:12
As Türkiye gears up to preside over the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) this November, the country's designated high-level climate champion has been conducting a series of strategic meetings in the United States. Samed Agirbas, who leads the Istanbul-based Zero Waste Foundation, recently visited Washington, DC to engage with leading global institutions on enhancing collaboration for climate action and sustainable development. Engaging Think Tanks and Financial Institutions During his visit, Agirbas held talks with the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), a prominent nonpartisan think tank. Discussions with C2ES President Nat Keohane centered on boosting the private sector's role in climate policy and exploring how companies and investors can make stronger contributions to the goals of COP31. The meetings underscored the importance of bridging the gap between policy development and corporate action in the lead-up to the summit. Focus on Climate Finance and Circular Economy Agirbas also met with senior officials at the World Bank Group to address critical topics such as scaling up climate finance and promoting sustainable development investments. The conversations highlighted opportunities to expand circular economy projects that support global environmental objectives. Additionally, a meeting with World Resources Institute (WRI) President and CEO Ani Dasgupta focused on increasing international stakeholder involvement and building robust partnerships between governments, businesses, and local authorities to accelerate the global adoption of zero-waste practices. Building on Zero-Waste Momentum The diplomatic push in Washington aligns with Türkiye's broader efforts to integrate zero-waste principles into international climate policy. This initiative gained significant recognition in December 2022 when the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution led by Türkiye, co-sponsored by 105 countries, designating March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste. The Zero Waste Foundation, established under the auspices of Honorary President Emine Erdogan, continues to build on this legacy as Türkiye prepares to welcome nearly 200 countries to Antalya and Istanbul for COP31 from Nov. 9-20.