'Trojan Horse' action from Greenpeace at COP31: 'It's time to fight for real zero waste'

Greenpeace started to exhibit the Trojan Horse sculpture, which it prepared together with Danish artist Thomas Dambo, in front of Konyaaltı Municipality in Antalya, within the scope of COP31. Greenpeace Türkiye activists gave a performance to promote the statue, which is six meters high and four meters wide. During the performance, when the lid on the body of the statue was opened, plastic waste spilled out.

In the action aimed at drawing attention to the dependence of plastic production on fossil fuels, Greenpeace called on world leaders to reduce plastic production and stop new petrochemical investments.

In Greenpeace's statement, it was stated that 99 percent of plastics are produced from fossil fuels, and it was argued that fossil fuel companies tended to increase plastic production in the face of the decrease in oil and natural gas demand.

“THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY USES PLASTIC AS AN ESCAPE POINT”

Berk Butan, Greenpeace Türkiye Social and Economic Systems Campaign Officer, said the following about the statue prepared based on the Trojan Horse legend:

"The legend of Troy is a very striking story in the ancient history of these lands. This horse, which looks like a gift from the outside, hides something inside that threatens our lives, just like in the legend. The fossil fuel industry uses plastic as an escape point. However, while plastics deepen the climate crisis from production to waste, they pollute our soil, air and coasts. Our beaches are witnesses of this pollution. Turkey is home to a historical moment. Now is the time to take a determined stance and fight for real zero waste," he said.

“A HEALTHIER CLIMATE MEANS REDUCING PLASTIC PRODUCTION”

Danish artist Thomas Dambo, known for his large-scale sculptures made of recycled materials, also stated that the work was prepared to draw attention to the relationship between plastic consumption and the oil and natural gas industry. Dambo said:

"I only make my sculptures from recycled materials because I want people to think about how much plastic is being produced. Here at COP31, this Trojan Horse reveals what everyday plastic hides: its connection to oil and gas. The fossil fuel industry continues to thrive through plastic as leaders negotiate our climate future. I hope this horse, which I created with Greenpeace, will spark curiosity and send a clear message. A healthier climate means reducing plastic production."

Greenpeace Türkiye emphasized that the Zero Waste approach should not be limited to waste management only. With its action at COP31, Greenpeace reiterated its call to make reducing plastic production a part of international climate policies.