[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,<\/strong><\/p>\n Mr. Dennis Francis,<\/strong><\/p>\n At the Commemoration of the International Day of Zero Waste<\/strong><\/p>\n [As Delivered]<\/strong><\/p>\n 27 March 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Your Excellency, Sedat \u00d6nal, Permanent Representative of the Republic of T\u00fcrkiye to the United Nations,<\/p>\n Ms. Ligia Noronha, Head of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵEP New York Office,<\/p>\n Ms.\u00a0Mr. Michal Mlyn\u00e1r, Acting Executive Director of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ-Habitat,<\/p>\n Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let me begin by commending the Permanent Mission of the Republic of T\u00fcrkiye, the United Nations Environment Programme, and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ-Habitat for co-organizing today’s event \u2013 marking the International Day of Zero Waste.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We are all deeply appreciative of your ongoing efforts to promote zero-waste initiatives \u2013 contributing to advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I think it more than appropriate to pay tribute to the distinguished First Lady of the Republic of T\u00fcrkiye, Ms. Emine Erdo\u011fan, the protagonist and initiator of the Zero Waste project in her own country.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was the astounding success of this that motivated the General Assembly to the adoption of a resolution tabled by the Republic of T\u00fcrkiye \u2013 declaring 30 March as the International Day of Zero Waste.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The numbers and trends speak for themselves in describing the situation as nothing short of harrowing:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2.24 billion tons of municipal solid waste are generated annually, Without urgent action, it is projected that annual municipal solid waste generation will hit 3.8 billion tons by 2050.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Moreover \u2013 if we cling to the business-as-usual mentality \u2013 we will have more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today \u2013 as we commemorate this important day \u2013 we urgently need to pause and rethink the unsustainable linear development model of “take, make and dispose” we have been so actively pursuing.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is high time we replace that model with sustainable practices of production and consumption to minimize our ecological footprint \u2013 including adopting a circular approach that promotes a resource efficiency model of reduce, reuse and recycle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To achieve this, we must shift our perspective and accelerate our efforts to develop and implement zero-waste initiatives to foster the environmentally sound management of waste; the minimization of waste; and \u2013 where feasible \u2013 the total prevention of waste.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Such a societal shift should not be a burden. Rather, it should be seen as an opportunity not only to mitigate environmental harm but also to foster innovation, create green jobs, and promote social inclusion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It should also be viewed as an opportunity to invest in sustainable infrastructure, prioritize eco-friendly technologies, and empower communities to become true stewards of their own environment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Allow me to also reiterate the commitments made by the world leaders in the 2023 SDG Summit political declaration \u2013 which acknowledged the serious threats posed by plastic, air, and chemical pollution, and expressed firm support for an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I am also deeply grateful to share this moment with a youth representative.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The youth are the changemakers. Their perspectives and actions are absolutely critical in our efforts to reach zero waste \u2013 and they deserve a say on such matters that have a lifechanging impact on their future.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meeting our zero waste objectives and targets requires a comprehensive multi-stakeholders approach, at all levels \u2013 from grassroots initiatives to national policies, from corporate boardrooms to international fora.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our approach must also square the circle to encompass policy alignment, knowledge sharing, capacity-building, resource mobilization, and technology transfer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Importantly \u2013 and in the true spirit of leaving no one behind \u2013 our commitment and indeed our transition to Zero Waste must be beneficial to all, especially countries in special situations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let me close by reiterating that our commemoration today is rooted in a robust commitment to pursue and attain sustainability within the framework of the 2030 Agenda \u2013 through, among other things, converting to sustainable patterns of production and consumption.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To this end, sustainability remains one of the core priorities of my Presidency \u2013 the full manifestation of which will be rolled out during the inaugural Sustainability Week I will be convening from 15 to 19 April.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I envision that this Week of back-to-back high-level engagements will spark in-depth discussions on transport, tourism, energy, infrastructure, and debt sustainability and socio-economic equality \u2013 propelling substantial progress in these key sectors of the economy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I further expect that Zero Waste initiatives \u2013 with their cross-cutting relevance across these sectors \u2013 will feature prominently in the discussions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Furthermore, it is my sincere hope that the harvest from this Week will both inform the deliberations of the Summit of the Future and accelerate momentum towards attaining all the SDGs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The journey towards Zero Waste does not by any means involve a simple unplanned destination \u2013 but rather, a continuous process of learning, adaptation and innovation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As the President of the General Assembly, I will play my part \u2013 and I call upon us all to harness the power of collective action and solidarity to turn the tide on waste.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I wish you all a fruitful discussion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Remarks by the President of the General Assembly, Mr. Dennis Francis, At the Commemoration of the International Day of Zero Waste [As Delivered] 27 March 2024 Your Excellency, Sedat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":373,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[81,111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-276438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog","category-speeches","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n
around 931 million tons of food is lost or wasted each year,
up to 14 million tons of plastic waste enters aquatic ecosystems,
and food loss and waste accounts for up to 10 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions \u2013 significantly contributing to the climate crisis.\u00a0<\/p>\n