Petaling Jaya, October 19, 2025 — The Europe Today: Malaysia has reaffirmed its strong support for the Istanbul Declaration on Zero Waste, underscoring its unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable waste management and circular economy practices in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who also serves as President of the UN-Habitat Assembly, made the announcement during the ministerial roundtable of the Global Zero Waste Forum 2025 held in Istanbul on Friday.
Nga stated that Malaysia stands in solidarity with the Government of Türkiye and 104 participating nations in promoting zero waste as a global responsibility and a cornerstone of sustainable urbanisation.
“Malaysia endorses the Istanbul Declaration on Zero Waste, which calls for sustained political momentum, stronger multi-level cooperation, and the acceleration of zero waste initiatives to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said, as quoted by Bernama.
He added that the declaration urges all nations to ensure equitable access to waste management and essential urban services, ensuring that “no one and no place is left behind.”
Adopted by ministers and delegates from more than 100 countries, the Istanbul Declaration on Zero Waste 2025 reaffirms the principles of United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/77/161, which promotes zero waste initiatives globally.
Nga highlighted that Malaysia’s national efforts are fully aligned with these global goals through the implementation of the Malaysia Circular Economy Blueprint 2025–2035, a comprehensive roadmap built around five key pillars: governance and legislation, guidelines and procedures, digitisation and technology, infrastructure and facilities, and market creation.
He further noted Malaysia’s tangible progress, including the closure of over 2,000 illegal dumpsites, full urban waste collection coverage, and the recycling of more than 22,000 tonnes of materials.
“We commend the leadership of the Government of Türkiye and the Zero Waste Foundation, under the patronage of Her Excellency Emine Erdoğan, First Lady of Türkiye, for their commitment to driving this global movement,” Nga said.
“Malaysia is proud to stand among nations that are translating the zero-waste vision into real-world impact,” he added.
