This Thursday, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the commemoration of the third anniversary of the International Day of Zero Waste was held. The event was attended by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Philemon Yang, and the First Lady of the Republic of Turkey, H.E. Mrs. Emine Erdoğan.
In this context, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, emphasized the importance of promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns, including local and national zero waste projects, to promote environmentally sound waste management.
He also emphasized that the reduction of waste generation and its efficient management are fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and stressed the need to avoid global circular economy approaches that seek to transfer waste to developing countries.
At the same time, he advocated strengthening multilateral and bilateral financing mechanisms to ensure that developing countries have access to appropriate technologies and knowledge to implement zero waste projects. In that regard, he proposed the creation of a mechanism for the exchange of scientific and technological information to facilitate access to relevant tools for waste management in the countries of the South.
Finally, he reiterated Cuba's commitment to promoting initiatives aimed at protecting the environment and the well-being of all people by identifying feasible and realistic solutions for developing countries. He acknowledged Turkey's leadership in this process and the special impetus it has given to this issue.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations