H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK delivered the opening remarks at the High-Level Panel entitled “From Waste to Resilience: Innovative Solutions from OIC Member Countries for a Sustainable Future”, jointly organised by SESRIC and the Oman Environment Authority within the framework of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31).

In her remarks, H.E. SELÇUK drew attention to the growing global challenge of municipal solid waste, noting that the world generated approximately 2.6 billion tonnes of such waste in 2022, a figure projected to increase by 50% to nearly 4 billion tonnes by 2050. She also highlighted the economic potential of adopting circular approaches to waste management, which could generate an estimated global net economic gain of approximately USD 110 billion annually by 2050.

H.E. SELÇUK outlined three key priorities for OIC Member Countries to transform waste into economic value and strengthen their resilience: recovering value through innovation; establishing the enabling conditions necessary for innovative solutions to succeed; and translating national experiences into shared progress through cooperation and knowledge exchange.

She further emphasised SESRIC’s contribution to advancing these priorities through its statistical services, research activities, and capacity-building programmes. Concluding her remarks, H.E. SELÇUK underscored that the resources conserved today contribute directly to strengthening the capacity of societies and economies to withstand future challenges and shocks.

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