"Our goal is to ensure the transformation of our universities from Green Campuses to Green Universities, from Waste Management to Circular Economy, from Sustainability Awareness to Green Innovation"

October 18, 2025

CoHE President Prof. Erol Özvar participated in the International Zero Waste Forum organized by the Zero Waste Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and UN-Habitat.

In his address titled “Academia and Zero Waste: A Scientific Approach to a Waste-Free Future,” Özvar highlighted that the Zero Waste Movement, launched under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan in 2017, had transcended national borders to become a global environmental awareness initiative.

Describing Erdoğan’s leadership as visionary, Özvar said: “This is not merely an environmental campaign; it is a call to rebuild a healthy and sustainable relationship between humanity and nature. Mrs. Erdoğan has successfully carried this message beyond Türkiye’s borders, bringing the international community together around a shared environmental responsibility. The UN General Assembly’s declaration of March 30 as International Zero Waste Day and her appointment as Chair of the UN High-Level Advisory Board are testaments to this achievement.”

Özvar emphasized that Türkiye’s Zero Waste model had inspired many countries and given new momentum to environmental diplomacy: “This demonstrates that Türkiye has not only transformed itself environmentally but has also become a model nation inspiring the world.”

“Transformation must be guided by science and driven by social participation”

Özvar underlined that the zero waste approach requires the scientific redesign of production, consumption, technology, and behavioral systems: “Real transformation can only be effective and lasting when guided by science, strengthened through education, and energized by social participation.”

He stated that environmental sustainability, green transformation, and zero waste policies are now central priorities for Türkiye’s higher education system. Through the Sustainable and Climate-Friendly Campus Project, the CoHE encourages universities to improve energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and carbon footprint reduction.

“We attach great importance to launching new programs”

Özvar said that the CoHE attaches great importance to establishing new university programs in areas such as green transformation, energy efficiency, and sustainability, to train the skilled workforce needed by Türkiye: “In recent years, we have promoted the opening of undergraduate and graduate programs in climate change, renewable energy technologies, circular economy, and resource management.”

“We have turned the zero waste vision into tangible achievements”

Highlighting CoHE’s interdisciplinary approach, Özvar noted that courses promoting environmental awareness have been integrated into curricula across disciplines—from engineering and business to urban planning and the social sciences:

“Our universities have gone beyond setting goals; they have achieved measurable progress and concrete results in reducing their carbon footprint. Today, Turkish universities have successfully turned the zero waste vision into tangible achievements.”

“Our goal is to advance toward green innovation”

Concluding his remarks, Özvar said: “Zero waste is not merely an environmental policy; it represents an economic, technological, and cultural paradigm shift. Our goal at the CoHE is to ensure the transformation of our universities from green campuses to green universities, from waste management to circular economy, and from sustainability awareness to green innovation.”

He reaffirmed the CoHE’s commitment to supporting universities in sharing best practices, joining international research partnerships, and encouraging researchers to contribute to this global effort.