In October 2025, young leaders from around the world gathered in Istanbul, Türkiye, for the Zero Waste Forum- a landmark event reimagining how humanity produces, consumes, and coexists with the planet. Held under the patronage of Her Excellency Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye, and the leadership of Mr. Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation, the Forum became a powerful platform for intergenerational collaboration and shared purpose.
SERAC-Bangladesh co-initiated the Youth DeclarACTION on Zero Waste Living alongside the UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board and UNEP’s Children and Youth Major Group—a youth-driven roadmap for sustainable, circular, and inclusive living adopted at the close of the Forum. The Executive Director of SERAC-Bangladesh Mr. SM Shaikat, led the Youth DeclarACTION on behalf of the organization, moderating the youth plenary and consolidating the voices of young delegates into this global declaration.
This declaration is more than a policy statement; it is a generational call to action. It captures the creativity, urgency, and determination of young people who refuse to accept waste as an inevitable consequence of progress. It calls for a world where prevention replaces disposal, inclusion replaces inequity, and accountability replaces inaction.
The Youth DeclarACTION recognizes that the global waste crisis is deeply connected to the triple planetary emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. It advocates for a just transition that prioritizes prevention over management, uplifts marginalized communities, and strengthens intergenerational responsibility- redefining Zero Waste as not merely an environmental goal, but a social contract, a climate strategy, and a moral imperative.
At the Forum, youth leaders committed to reducing their own waste footprints, advancing reuse and repair through innovation, and using art, storytelling, and digital platforms to drive change. Their message was clear: “The future is not disposable.” This conviction echoed through the Forum, urging governments, businesses, and communities to rethink their relationship with consumption and the planet.
The DeclarACTION also outlines a roadmap for continued collaboration- calling for Youth Zero Waste Hubs in partnership with UN-Habitat, local governments, and civil society; contributing youth-led solutions to the UN Secretary-General’s 2026 Report on Zero Waste; and integrating Zero Waste learning into formal and informal education systems worldwide.
For SERAC-Bangladesh, co-initiating this global youth declaration was both an honor and a responsibility. It reaffirmed our commitment to empowering youth as leaders of environmental and social transformation and to supporting the Zero Waste Foundation’s leadership in expanding the movement across Asia. Through partnerships with youth networks, civil society, academia, and the private sector, SERAC continues to champion sustainable lifestyles, innovation, and policy advocacy at national and global levels.
At SERAC, Zero Waste is more than an initiative—it is a philosophy grounded in justice, inclusion, and innovation. Together with our partners, we aim to build a circular, resilient, and equitable future—one where nothing goes to waste and no one is left behind.
👉 Read more about the Youth DeclarACTION and our collective commitment to sustainable living:
https://drive.google.com/…/1Bj85xP3ksp9VNRi1t7Q…/view…