Iremcon News

Two International Brands IFAT EURASIA and IREMCON in Collaboration...

International collaborations play a vital role in increasing environmental awareness and promoting environmental protection at the regional and global level. Integrated waste management plays a key role in environmental protection efforts and contributes to the cyclical economy. Promoting and supporting all activities and organizations related to environmental protection is the policy of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization of the Republic of Turkey. In this context, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization announced that it would once again support the 3rd IREMCON International Environment Conference this year.

 

Giving a statement to our magazine, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Birpınar, Deputy Minister of Environment and Urbanization, says: “I have welcomed the news that IREMCON will be held in Istanbul on 28-29 March 2019 under the title of “Strengthening International Cooperation in Combating Global Climate Change and Waste Management”. It is evident that 3rd IREMCON will continue to offer a forum for international authorities, waste management sector representatives and academic staff from the Balkan countries and Turkic Republics to share their expertise. This conference is thought to contribute to opening new horizons in zero waste, recycling and waste management, evaluating private sector investment opportunities and enhancement of international cooperation. The efforts of the 3rd IREMCON Executive Board in line with these purposes are appreciated and closely followed by the Ministry. The Ministry will take part in the 3rd IREMCON Conference with senior officials and experts on the subject".

 

On the other hand, Türkay Özgür, Chairman of Group E, and Osman Genç, General Manager of MMI Eurasia, signed a protocol of cooperation between IFAT EURASIA and IREMCON. IREMCON, which will be held for the third time on March 28-29, 2019, will be organized in IFAT EURASIA with the theme “Strengthening International Cooperation in Combating Global Climate Change and Waste Management” based on the cooperation achieved through long-term negotiations.

 

Osman Bayazit Genç, General Manager of MMI Eurasia, said in a statement about the subject: “Our participants and partners will be happy once again with this cooperation. IFAT Eurasia and IREMCON have become an international brand in their fields in a very short time. This cooperation will contribute to obtaining effective results in our immediate region as well as in our country."

 

Türkay Özgür, Chairman of Board of Group E, said in his statement: “When we compare IFAT Eurasia with other events in Turkey, we can certainly say that it is at a very high level. The cooperation reveals targets for the next 4 years. This agreement, which will remain in effect until 2023, will contribute to the enhancement of international cooperation. The joint forces of these two international brands will also affect the revival of the waste economy. We expect top-level participation from over 20 countries simply within the scope of IREMCON. With the active participation in IFAT EURASIA, we will bring more than 50 country representatives to Istanbul this year”.

 

 

 

 

THE MAIN THEME IS FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

In her speech in COP-24, Kristalina Georgieva, CEO of the World Bank, told that they would donate $200 billion to countries in order to fight against climate change by doubling their five-year investment targets after 2020, and this would make a serious contribution to increasing the accord and resistance in the countries in need of it, and they would also heed the balance in investments in reduction and harmonization.

In IREMCON, which is organized with the main theme “Strengthening International Cooperation in Combating Global Climate Change and Waste Management” will make significant contributions to sharing knowledge and experiences in the field. Speaking at COP-24, Mr. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, said in his speech that climate change was progressing faster than us and it had to be contained before it was too late and that was a matter of life and death. He also said that the current efforts were not fast enough and sufficient. Mr. Guterres delivered four simple messages in his speech:

 

• The current efforts for science need to be increased.
• A framework is created for the climate action of the Paris Agreement.
• Financial commitments need to be strengthened.
• Climate action will make the world a better place.

 

 

Stating that the global temperature increase with existing NDCs will be 3 degrees based on the latest emission report of UNEP, Mr. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, said that the results would be destructive and added that the IPCC 1.5 Degree special report revealed that the 1.5-degree target could be achieved. Mr. Antonio Guterres stated that the countries responsible for the vast majority of emissions had to increase their efforts and emissions should not increase after 2030 and net zero target in emissions had to be attained as of 2050. He also noted that we could achieve this goal only by reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and increasing investments in renewable energy.

 

Mr. Guterres emphasized that the Paris Agreement constituted a framework for the “transition“ process and finance and investment are of vital importance in achieving success. In this context, he emphasized that investments had to be made especially in energy, cities, land use, water and industry areas and move towards “green” economy rather than “gray”.

 

In his speech, Mr. Michał Kurtyka, President of COP 24 and Secretary of State, said that the transition process was particularly important for countries dependent on fossil fuels and noted that no one should be left alone in this process and that global cooperation was important in this sense. Expressing that the G20 Statement was an indication of this, Mr. Kurtyka stated that "sharing responsibility" is essential in global efforts due to the different national conditions of the countries.

 

The IREMCON Executive Board, which focuses its works on strengthening international cooperation in combating global climate change and waste management, organized a high number of meetings in this context in consideration of international developments. Mustafa Akalp, the Chairman of 3rd IREMCON Executive Council, emphasized that highly efficient outputs were achieved during his visits to the Balkan countries and said: “Trips for making invitations to IREMCON continue. Finally, on February 16, 2019 in Skopje, we met with Mr. Zoran Sapuric, Minister of Investment, PAKOMAK-Filip Ivanovski, MASWA-Daniela Nelepa, NULA OTPAD-Maryancho Dameski and Anna Karanfiova, Head of Waste Management of Ministry. On February 19, 2019, Fatmir Matoshi, Head of Waste Management, accepted us in his office in Pristina. We got positive feedback from Romania, Bulgaria and Montenegro. At the moment, the conference call was made by IFAT Eurasia via its international networks, and we expect high level participation this year”.