Malaysia is set to receive the Special Recognition Award from the Zero Waste Foundation, the highest honor presented by the organization, in acknowledgment of the country’s strong commitment to promoting circular economy principles and sustainable waste management.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), the award will be presented this week at the Global Zero Waste Forum 2025, taking place from October 16 to 19 in Istanbul, Türkiye. The event is expected to gather participants from 104 countries and 118 international partner organizations.
Minister Nga Kor Ming, who is leading the Malaysian delegation, expressed pride in representing Malaysia on the world stage to showcase the nation’s progress and learn best practices from other countries advancing the zero-waste agenda.
“As the President of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Assembly, I welcome the opportunity to strengthen collaboration with zero-waste experts and global partners to accelerate sustainable urban solutions,” he said in the statement.
With the theme “Zero Waste in Action: People, Places, Progress,” Nga is scheduled to deliver a keynote address during the forum’s opening ceremony.
He will also hold several bilateral meetings, including with Türkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum, and UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclaudia Roserbach, focusing on mainstreaming the New Urban Agenda within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change process and advancing global zero-waste initiatives.
Additionally, Nga will attend the Ministerial Meeting on Municipalities and Zero Waste, where he will deliver another keynote speech at the Plenary Opening Session, themed “Zero Waste as a Global Responsibility.”
Organized by the Zero Waste Foundation—established under the patronage of Türkiye’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan—the forum gathers world leaders, experts, and policymakers to discuss the past, present, and future of the zero-waste movement in building sustainable, waste-free cities.
