“43 MILLION CHILDREN ARE WRITING IN THE CLAWS OF HUNGER IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE WORLD”

President Erdoğan stated that, according to the report published by the United Nations World Food Program, 43 million children are currently suffering from hunger in different parts of the world and said, “One third of the food produced in a year, that is, 1.3 billion tons, is wasted. Every year, more than 3 million children die in the prime of their lives as a result of hunger-related diseases.” he said.

Pointing out that the waste problem is also an important threat on a global scale, Erdoğan said, “This is a truly frightening example that reveals the dire dimensions of the problem of the 1.6 million square kilometer ‘garbage continent’ in the north of the Pacific Ocean, consisting of tons of waste and plastic, which my wife Emine Erdoğan brought up at the opening of the forum. The data we have shows that this problem will deepen rather than decrease. Solid waste, which is 2.1 billion tons in 2023.” “The amount is expected to increase to 3.8 billion tons in 2050 if no measures are taken.” he said.

President Erdoğan continued as follows:

“As Turkey, we see nature both as a legacy entrusted to us by our Lord and as a legacy that must be handed over to future generations, and we meticulously take the necessary steps in terms of environment, climate and waste management. We act with an approach based on green transformation, circular economy and sustainable development, and make intense efforts to minimize the effects of the climate crisis. The Zero Waste Movement, which was launched in 2017 under the leadership of my wife Emine Erdoğan, is today a global environment accepted by the United Nations.” “In 2022, Türkiye was the main presenter and 105 countries were the co-hosts, and the declaration of March 30 as International Zero Waste Day was the most valuable fruit of sincere efforts in this direction.”

“WE WILL CONTINUE OUR WORK WITH DETERMINATION IN LINE WITH OUR 2053 NET ZERO EMISSION TARGET”

President Erdoğan continued his words as follows:

“With the projects and practices implemented with the zero waste movement, we contributed 365 billion liras to our economy. We recycled 90 million tons of waste. We prevented the cutting down of 613 million trees. We prevented the emission of 180 million tons of greenhouse gases, which corresponds to the carbon emissions of 36 million trees. We saved 2 trillion liters of water, 270 billion kilowatt-hours of energy, 60 billion liters of oil and 390 million cubic meters of waste storage space. “Our recovery rate, which was 13 percent in 2017, increased to 37.53 percent in 2025, almost 3 times. We will increase this rate to 60 percent in 2035 and hopefully to 70 percent in 2053. We will continue our work determinedly in line with our 2053 net zero emission target.”

Erdoğan, who turned the Zero Waste Movement, which started in 2017 as a symbol of environmental sensitivity and a deep awareness of responsibility towards future generations, into a global environment and climate struggle in a short period of 9 years, wholeheartedly thanked all the workers, especially those who inspired and pioneered the movement, and hoped that the forum would be beneficial.

President Erdoğan was accompanied by his wife Emine Erdoğan at the gala dinner.

In the program where the short film “Türkiye with Seasons” was watched, Zero Waste Foundation President and COP31 High Level Climate Champion Samed Ağırbaş also made a speech.

A video about the Zero Waste Movement and the vision of the forum was also shown in the program.

Ballot boxes were set up for local elections in three cities of Türkiye. Local by-elections were held in a total of six towns in Tokat, Gümüşhane and Nevşehir.

In which towns were the elections held?

Election excitement took place in the towns of Yolüstü and Çevrecik in Reşadiye district of Tokat, Bağtaşı in Almus district, Kuşçu in Yeşilyurt district, Tekke in Gümüşhane and Mustafapaşa in Nevşehir’s Ürgüp district and in 362 neighborhoods from various regions of the country.

As a result of the elections, the mayors and municipal council members of six towns will be determined. In the neighborhoods, ballot boxes were established for the headman and the councils of elders.

Voting in the elections started at 8 o’clock. The polls closed at 17:00.

Nevşehir-Muratpaşa

Mayoral and municipal council member elections started today in Mustafapaşa town of Ürgüp district of Nevşehir. Voters in Mustafapaşa, which regained its town status, started going to the polls in the morning to elect the new mayor and council members.

12 political parties and 1 independent candidate are competing in the elections. Voting was cast in a total of 7 ballot boxes, 5 in Mustafapaşa town and 2 in Ayvalı District.

Gümüşhane-Tekke

Voting for the mayoral and municipal council elections has started in Tekke Town of Gümüşhane, which regained town status with the decision of the Supreme Electoral Board. Citizens started to go to the polls and cast their votes from the early hours of the morning.

There is election excitement in the Tekke town of Gümüşhane, which regained town status with the decision of the Supreme Election Board. Within the scope of the voting process, which started at 08.00 in the morning, voters cast their votes in 9 ballot boxes set up in the town.

Which parties are entering?

27 political parties participated in the local by-elections to be held in the towns

The places of the parties participating in the election on the combined ballot paper were determined by a draw on April 21.

Breaking News… President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made important statements at the gala dinner of the ‘Zero Waste Forum’ held at Istanbul Atatürk Airport…

Highlights from President Erdoğan’s speech:

“I wholeheartedly congratulate you on your Istanbul Zero Waste Week. I hope that our exhibitions that raise the awareness of both our children and our visitors will bring good things.

This forum, attended by more than five thousand participants, shows the level Türkiye has reached. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to the forum with their ideas and criticism. I hope that the new steps to be taken will be beneficial in advance.

The climate issue is a serious problem that threatens all of humanity, just like war and global epidemics. The impact of these problems is felt even more in a very wide area. Throughout billions of years of world history, the climate has changed in every era. The main issue here is to solve it without causing a crisis.

The countries that have the biggest share in the deepening of the climate crisis are also the countries least affected by this crisis. While there is no drinking water on one side, luxury and rudeness continue on the other side. 43 million children are in the grip of hunger.

We are living in a period where artificial intelligence and new technologies accelerate production and unconscious consumption habits harm nature.

With the Zero Waste movement, 365 billion liras were contributed to our economy. “We prevented 180 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.”

In Istanbul, where approximately 4 million children live, projects targeting the development of children in many areas from education to sports, from culture to social support have gained momentum in the last three years. Within the scope of the studies carried out by the Governorship of Istanbul, increasing the habit of reading books, popularizing sports, supporting music education and social assistance for disadvantaged children came to the fore.

THEY EXCEEDED THE NUMBER OF BOOKS IN 100 YEARS IN 3 YEARS

One of the most striking projects of the Istanbul Governorship was school libraries. While the number of books in school libraries was 6.5 million in the nearly 100-year period from the establishment of the Republic until 2023, 7 million 300 thousand new books were added to schools in the last three years. It was aimed to strengthen the reading culture with libraries consisting of works appropriate to children’s ages and interests.

BOOK FAIRS WERE HELD IN 39 DISTRICTS

Thanks to book fairs organized in all districts of Istanbul, students’ access to books and authors was facilitated. Children, who previously had difficulty reaching large fairs in the city center, had the opportunity to meet the world of books through organizations held in their own districts.

SPORTS CITY ISTANBUL PROJECT

One of the areas that the governorship prioritized was sports. Within the scope of the “Sports City Istanbul” project, sports clubs were created in all schools. While the number of school sports clubs, which was previously approximately 30, increased to 2 thousand 700, the number of licensed student athletes increased from 12 thousand to 875 thousand. Necessary equipment and material support for sports activities was also provided.

MUSIC WORKSHOP FOR 500 SCHOOLS

Within the scope of the work carried out with the understanding of “No School Left Without an Instrument”, music workshops were established in 500 schools across Istanbul. The project aimed to introduce children to at least one musical instrument and to become more involved with art.

REPRESENTATIVES WERE ELECTED FROM 115 THOUSAND CLASSES

Student assemblies were established to increase children’s participation in decision-making processes. Representatives elected from 115 thousand classes in Istanbul had the opportunity to express their opinions on education and social life by taking part in assemblies at school, district and provincial levels.

253 HOMEWORK HOUSES WERE ESTABLISHED

Within the scope of projects for disadvantaged children, 253 homework houses were opened by using suitable public areas. In these centers, safe environments were created where students could study, use computers and receive educational support.

CANTINE CARD SUPPORT FOR 42 THOUSAND STUDENTS

The canteen card application for students in need was also implemented. Monthly canteen support was provided to 42 thousand students, especially children of martyrs and veterans, orphans, children staying with foster families, children of disabled individuals and economically disadvantaged students.

SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS

Istanbul Governorship also created scholarship programs for successful students. Scholarships began to be given to students who got full scores in LGS and young people who ranked in the top 1000 in the university exam, regardless of their economic situation. More than 1400 students currently benefit from these supports.

GOVERNOR GÜL: “CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE”

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül stated that investing in children is an investment in the future of the city and the country, and that children who meet with books, sports, music and social support hold on to life stronger.