Emine Erdogan, Türkiye’s First Lady and chair of the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Zero Waste, said on Wednesday that the world is witnessing a “dark era” where water is weaponised and being used as “a tool of genocide”, pointing to Gaza as the most tragic example.
Speaking at the opening of the “Zero Waste Blue—Drop by Drop” exhibition in New York, Erdogan said Türkiye’s environmental efforts are undertaken for the benefit of all humanity.
“We take every step not only for ourselves but for all our brothers and sisters who share the Earth. Each achievement brings us the indescribable joy of contributing to humanity’s welfare,” she said. Erdogan warned that Gaza now has “the most expensive water in the world, because the price of a glass of water is paid with human life.”
“Unfortunately, we are in a very dark period where water can be used as a tool of genocide. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has targeted Gaza’s water infrastructure in its attacks. About 85 percent of pipelines, treatment plants, wells, and related systems are unusable,” Erdogan said, adding that Palestinians are forced to walk long distances every day to meet their basic water needs.
“Sometimes they are killed in missile strikes on water queues before they can even bring water back to their families. Images of small children struggling to carry water containers heavier than their own bodies are truly a black mark on humanity’s conscience,” she said.
“Out of thirst, people are compelled to drink water that is not fit for human consumption. I believe there is no moral, legal, humanitarian, or ethical red line left in Gaza.”
Plastic crisis threatens global waters
The exhibition aims to present Türkiye’s initiatives to protect seas, lakes, and oceans on a global stage, promote tangible environmental achievements and foster international collaboration to strengthen ecological diplomacy.
In this regard, she emphasised the urgent threat of pollution, noting, “Who would have thought that humanity, which has built civilisations, achieved scientific discoveries, and produced extraordinary works of art, would one day add a continent of waste to the Earth, rendering our planet’s blue cover unrecognisable?”
“Unfortunately, the Pacific Ocean alone hosts a floating garbage patch of approximately 1.6 million square kilometres, comprising plastic bottles, bags, cigarette butts, and fishing nets. This area is twice the size of Türkiye, illustrating the scale of the challenge we must confront,” she added.
She highlighted global plastic pollution, stating that “57 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated worldwide each year, with approximately 23 million tonnes contaminating lakes, rivers, and seas — equivalent to 2,000 garbage trucks dumped into waters daily. More than 14 million tons of microplastics are estimated to exist in the oceans, silently entering our food chain and even reaching our tables.”
She also noted research revealing microplastics in newborns’ placentas, underscoring the pervasive and unstoppable nature of plastic pollution.
Zero Waste emerges as a global movement
Erdogan framed environmental protection as a moral imperative rooted in civilisation, saying, “The common denominator of every ancient civilisation is a respectful relationship with nature. To confront the undeniable global challenge of climate change today, we must revive this understanding.”
Highlighting the country’s historical commitment to addressing humanity’s challenges, Erdogan recalled the 2017 launch of the Zero Waste journey under the motto “Our World, Our Common Home.”
She underlined that Zero Waste has now become a global movement, citing the 2022 UN General Assembly adoption of the Zero Waste resolution and the Global Zero Waste Goodwill Declaration supported by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Since 2019, the Zero Waste Blue initiative has removed 285,000 tons of marine debris, equivalent to 22,000 truckloads, from Turkish coasts and seas. With 551 Blue Flag beaches, Türkiye ranks third globally for the number of certified beaches. The 2023 Water Efficiency Campaign further emphasises Türkiye’s commitment to ensuring access to safe drinking water in a world where over 2 billion people lack it.
She concluded by calling for a just world where water and food are not weaponised, international law is respected, and universal values apply to all.
Erdogan invited attendees to sign the Global Zero Waste Goodwill Declaration as a commitment to collective environmental responsibility. Following her remarks, Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, formally signed the declaration.
