First Lady Sajidha calls for producer responsibility to protect marine environment at Global Zero Waste Alliance in Turkey

First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has said that it is essential to protect the marine environment by addressing the issue of waste from its very source and by managing waste sustainably while increasing the responsibility of producers. She made these remarks while speaking at the high-level meeting of the "Global Zero Waste Alliance" held in Antalya, Turkey. The meeting was held at the invitation of the First Lady of Turkey, Emine Erdoğan, as part of the official visit of the President to Turkey to participate in the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. First Ladies of leaders from various countries participated in the meeting, where discussions were mainly held regarding increasing international support for sustainable waste management and environmental protection. In her remarks, the First Lady highlighted the damage caused to reefs and marine life by waste entering the sea, as well as the damage to the food chain. Noting that a single piece of waste does not disappear on its own, she said that countries like the Maldives that depend on imports are forced to bear the burden of waste produced, packaged and exported in other countries of the world. Noting that the responsibility of producers does not end with the sale of goods, Sajidha called for increasing the responsibility of producers, packaging items in environmentally friendly ways, and using modern innovative technology. She also noted the importance of establishing arrangements for easy access to the financial assistance needed to transition to a circular economy. Highlighting the legal measures established in the Maldives in the area of waste management, she noted the amendments brought to the waste management law ratified by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu last August. She said that under these amendments, the importation of waste into the Maldives in violation of regulations has been prohibited, and strict penalties have been set for parties trading in hazardous waste without a permit. Noting that the role of families, schools and the community is very great in bringing about such a sustainable change, the First Lady said that sustainable change begins at home, is strengthened in schools, and expands through the community. She said that in that regard, empowering children to build a clean world is an important matter. Furthermore, she praised the leading role played by Emine Erdoğan in promoting the zero waste movement, and reiterated the Maldives' full support for the vision and goals of the "Global Zero Waste Alliance." During the meeting, the "Global Zero Waste Alliance" was officially inaugurated. It is an international movement established based on the "Zero Waste Movement" initiated in 2017 under the leadership of the First Lady of Turkey, Emine Erdoğan. The main purpose of the alliance is for governments, UN agencies and international participants to work together to expand principles of sustainable waste management at the global level.