Turkish energy and natural resources minister on Sunday called for stronger international cooperation on energy efficiency, saying it should take a more central role in global climate and development discussions ahead of COP31.

"No country can unlock its full efficiency potential alone. The scale of the transition requires stronger and, I believe, broader international cooperation, deeper knowledge exchange, and more innovative financing and technology partnerships," said Alparslan Bayraktar, addressing the High-Level Energy Dialogue Meeting held as part of the Zero Waste Forum in Istanbul.

"Türkiye is therefore ready to further strengthen its cooperation with all participating countries and institutions in areas such as policy design, regulatory frameworks, digitalization, measurement and verification systems, and of course sustainable financing models," Bayraktar added.

Bayraktar cited the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, trade wars, natural disasters, conventional wars, and the war in Ukraine and in Iran among the challenges facing the world.

In these circumstances, he said, two concepts stand out as crucial as never before: zero waste and energy efficiency.

"They are the two pillars of the same vision. At their core, they share the same simple and powerful principles: preventing waste and optimal use of resources," he added.

Looking ahead to COP31 in Antalya, Bayraktar said energy efficiency must occupy a much more central place in global climate and development discussions.

"Because energy efficiency is not only an environmental instrument," he said. "It is an energy security instrument. And it is increasingly a competitiveness instrument in a rapidly changing global economy."

"Every product recycled, every ton of waste avoided, and every kilowatt-hour saved brings us closer to a more sustainable future," he said. "The resources of our planet may be limited, but our capacity to innovate, cooperate, and improve efficiency is not."

The three-day Zero Waste Forum, running through Sunday, is held under the theme Road to Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Action, linking the debate to global climate efforts ahead of COP31, which Türkiye will host in Antalya in November.

Alongside the forum, the Zero Waste Festival features exhibitions, workshops, and public events aimed at promoting environmental awareness.