Under the honorary leadership of H.E. Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, First Lady of Türkiye and Honorary President of the Zero Waste Foundation, the country’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change launched BlueAware as a worldwide call to protect marine ecosystems from pollution and degradation. The campaign was introduced at the “Drop by Drop” exhibition inside New York City’s historic Guastavino’s, where art installations met data-driven environmental storytelling to underscore one simple message: Protect what connects us.
A GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION
At its core, BlueAware asks a simple question, “Are You Blue Aware?” But its ambitions reach across continents. Through the new global platform, the campaign invites individuals, institutions, and governments to sign the Pledge to the Blue, a digital declaration of commitment to ocean and waterway protection.
Backed by UNEP and UN-Habitat, the initiative aims to secure one million digital pledges and establish partnerships across more than 30 countries. Its strategy integrates youth engagement, digital advocacy, and community-led environmental action, emphasizing that meaningful sustainability requires both policy and participation.
“Through BlueAware, we aim to secure one million digital pledges and foster partnerships across more than 30 countries,” said Murat Kurum, Türkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change. “This is a call for global unity, because pollution knows no borders. From the shores of Lake Van and Lake Salda to the depths of the Izmit Gulf, Türkiye’s Zero Waste Blue projects have proven that restoration is possible when determination meets collaboration.”
ENVIRONMENTAL DIPLOMACY THROUGH DESIGN AND DIALOGUE
The campaign’s unveiling at Climate Week NYC was no coincidence. Türkiye has been steadily building a reputation for environmental diplomacy that merges policy innovation with cultural expression. Through initiatives like Zero Waste, led by Mrs. Erdoğan and now recognized by the United Nations, Türkiye has reframed sustainability as both a moral and economic imperative.
With BlueAware, that vision extends to the oceans, transforming marine protection into a diplomatic bridge between nations. The campaign’s emphasis on collaboration and digital participation aligns closely with the growing demand from global corporations and governments for cross-border ESG initiatives that can demonstrate measurable impact.
LEADING TOWARD THE 2026 UN OCEAN CONFERENCE
Beyond its immediate awareness goals, BlueAware is designed to create momentum for the 2026 UN Ocean Conference, positioning Türkiye as a key convener in the global marine agenda. The initiative’s metrics, including partnerships formed, pledges signed, and community projects launched, will serve as tangible milestones ahead of the conference.
At the event, Türkiye also announced the International Zero Waste Forum, to be held October 17–19, 2025, in Istanbul, further reinforcing its leadership role in sustainability policy and innovation. The Forum is expected to convene policymakers, scientists, and private-sector leaders to discuss scalable solutions for circular economies, ocean health, and zero-waste infrastructure.
THE FUTURE OF BLUE DIPLOMACY
What distinguishes Türkiye’s approach is not just its policy framework, but its integration of soft power and storytelling. BlueAware leverages art, digital media, and civic participation to humanize environmental responsibility. It speaks to a growing truth in global leadership: environmental stewardship is now inseparable from economic competitiveness, national branding, and geopolitical cooperation.
As Climate Week’s attendees moved through the Drop by Drop exhibition, surrounded by immersive installations evoking the fragility of marine ecosystems, the message resonated beyond the visuals. Türkiye’s campaign represents a larger movement, where sustainability becomes diplomacy, and where oceans become not just ecosystems to be protected, but symbols of shared global identity.
Because in a world divided by borders, the blue still connects us all.
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