INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ZERO WASTE 2026, THE ZERO FOOD WASTE CHALLENGE: BREAKTHROUGHS AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES
Statement by H.E Ms. Beth Delaney, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
27 March 2026
Can I thank the organisers for convening today’s event, which provides an important opportunity to share innovative approaches to reducing food waste and loss.
Australia recognises that reducing food waste is a complex challenge, it is critically important to achieving the sustainable development agenda and solutions must consider different parts of the food supply chain.
We are committed to playing our part and our National Food Waste Strategy commits us to halving food waste by 2030.
We have heard about the importance of data, in Australia. Our food waste decreased by almost 20 per cent per capita between 2016 and 2023. While these are encouraging results, we know further action is needed.
As part of our approach, Australia is working to inspire and empower all Australians to reduce food waste in their homes, through a nationwide behaviour change campaign, ‘The Great Unwaste’.
I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all of today’s speakers including the insightful video message from Her Excellency Ms. Emine Erdoğan, and remarks from His Excellency Mr Murat Kurum, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of Türkiye.
Australia’s proud to be working with Türkiye, with whom we share a close historic bond as well as a newly forged partnership, to deliver COP31in Antalya in November 2026 and to support our Pacific family to host the Pre-COP in Fiji and special leaders’ event in Tuvalu from 5 – 8 October.
This will bring a global focus to the most pressing challenges facing our region, as well as Pacific-led solutions and initiatives.
We are honoured to have a role in supporting Türkiye’s leadership of the Action Agenda, including on strengthening the zero waste and circular economy approach, an area in which Türkiye is a leader as we have heard today.
I also thank Mr Samed Ağırbaş for his remarks and leadership as President of the Zero Waste Foundation and congratulate him on his appointment as COP31 High-Level Champion.
We welcome today’s insights and approaches for climate solutions through tackling food loss and waste towards a zero-waste future.