From 5 to 7 June 2026, Istanbul became the global centre of the zero waste movement as the Zero Waste Forum brought together representatives from 183 countries, more than 500 organisations and over 5,000 participants. The event welcomed ministers, former heads of state, UN leaders, business representatives, academics, youth delegates and civil society organisations from around the world.
Let’s Do It World (LDIW) was strongly represented by President & Head of Global Network Heidi Solba along with board members, country leaders and partners from across the global network, reflecting the strength and diversity of one of the world’s largest civic environmental movements.
Organised by the Zero Waste Foundation under the auspices of H.E. Emine Erdoğan, Chairperson of the United Nations Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste, the Forum was held under the theme Road to Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Action. It also served as an important preparatory platform for COP31, which will take place in Antalya in November 2026.
More than 120 ministers attended the Forum – a level of participation that exceeded that of the previous UN Climate Conference. The event also brought together leading institutions including the World Bank and universities such as Harvard, Oxford and Yale.
Among the distinguished participants were UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet, former President of Slovenia Borut Pahor, former President of Serbia Boris Tadić and Princess Dana Firas of Jordan.
Throughout the three-day programme, discussions focused on some of the most pressing global challenges, including waste, overconsumption, food loss, resource efficiency, circular economy solutions, climate resilience and the behavioural changes needed to create lasting transformation.
On 7 June, Heidi Solba participated in the panel discussion ‘Health and Climate Change: Mental Health, Youth, Anxiety and Behaviour Change’, alongside:
The session explored the links between environmental degradation, mental health, youth anxiety and the behavioural transformations required to address systemic challenges.
Drawing on LDIW’s experience of mobilising communities in more than 190 countries and territories, Heidi highlighted the vital role that grassroots action plays in building societies that are ready and willing to embrace change:
“We are living through converging crises – climate, biodiversity and inequality – and they are not separate problems requiring separate solutions. They are symptoms of the same disconnection. When communities act on their environment, they are not simply managing waste. They are reclaiming agency. That is the beginning of everything else.”
For Let’s Do It World, the discussions in Istanbul reaffirmed one of the movement’s founding principles: environmental challenges cannot be solved by any single stakeholder or sector alone. Lasting change requires engaged citizens, strong communities, responsible businesses, quality education and meaningful global partnerships.
As LDIW prepares for World Cleanup Day 2026 and continues to expand its work on waste prevention, environmental awareness and community action, the movement remains committed to building partnerships that inspire action and create lasting positive impact for people and the planet.
Thirteen representatives from across the Let’s Do It World network joined the Forum, representing Estonia, Iceland, Kosovo, Latvia, Malawi, Nepal, Rwanda, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine. The gathering provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen connections across our movement, exchange ideas and explore new opportunities for collaboration and partnership.
A special thank you goes to everyone who represented the movement in Istanbul, and to LDIW Board Member Luan Hasanaj for supporting the participation and coordination of LDIW leaders in Turkey.
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