Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, in his speech at the Turkey Zero Waste Environment and Climate Change Workshops Samsun Workshop Conclusion Conference held at the Martyr Ömer Halisdemir Multi-Purpose Hall, evaluated the results of the Samsun leg of the work carried out by the Zero Waste Foundation throughout Turkey with the motto "Waste, Waste and Resource Management from Local to National".
Stating that the waste, waste, environment and climate priorities of the city were discussed with common sense in the Samsun Zero Waste, Environment and Climate Change Workshop, which was held with 255 participants and 14 thematic tables, hosted by Ondokuz Mayıs University and under the auspices of Samsun Governorship, Uraloğlu said that the work was transformed into the Samsun Provincial Zero Waste Target Document.
Stating that the process is a model that extends from local to national and produces policy from the field, Uraloğlu said, "This document of Samsun will be one of the strong links of the workshop chains that will spread to 81 provinces." he said.
Net zero emission target in transportation
Uraloğlu stated that, as the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, they see the Zero Waste Movement, which was launched in 2017 under the leadership of Emine Erdoğan, not only as environmental sensitivity, but also as a part of the vision of economic resilience and development.
Stating that within the scope of the cooperation protocol signed with the Zero Waste Foundation, studies are carried out to improve waste management in transportation projects, increase the use of recycled materials in construction and maintenance processes, and disseminate zero waste practices in ports, airports and stations, Uraloğlu said:
"The transportation sector ranks third in the world, accounting for 21 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and second in Türkiye, with its share of 17.6 percent. With this awareness, we are carrying out 'Türkiye's Net Zero Emission Road Map in Transportation' to cover all transportation modes. Within the scope of this project, supported by the financial cooperation of the European Union, we make emission modeling, create projections according to different scenarios, and take determined steps towards our 2053 net zero emission target."
Uraloğlu stated that within the scope of the project, the current situation of roads, railways, airways and sea routes was analyzed and projections regarding the number of vehicles, fuel type and emissions were prepared.
"The number of electric vehicles exceeded 450 thousand"
Stating that the length of the divided road has been increased from 6 thousand 101 kilometers to 30 thousand 120 kilometers in the last 24 years, Uraloğlu stated that 6.57 million tons of carbon emissions have been prevented annually thanks to uninterrupted traffic flow.
Stating that the carbon footprint was reduced with ecological bridges, bicycle paths, solar power plants and asphalt recycling facilities, Uraloğlu stated that resource and energy efficiency was achieved by recycling approximately 2 million tons of asphalt annually.
Pointing out that electric vehicles have an important place in the transition to clean energy, Uraloğlu said:
"The number of electric vehicles has exceeded 450 thousand as of the first half of 2026, and the number of charging sockets has reached approximately 47 thousand. I would like to state that we are the leader in Europe in terms of the number of vehicles per socket. We have activated our Intelligent Transportation Systems Central Software Platform in the Hasdal-Istanbul Airport 5G corridor. We will increase our fiber optic infrastructure in our road networks to 20 thousand kilometers in order to popularize intelligent transportation systems."
The target for railways is 22 percent
Uraloğlu also stated that they aim to increase the share of railways in freight transportation from 5 percent to 22 percent, thus supporting safer, balanced and environmentally friendly multi-modal transportation.
Explaining that they support environmental transformation with the Green Port Certificate and decarbonization projects in maritime transportation, Uraloğlu spoke as follows about the work in the field of aviation:
"Within the scope of the airport carbon accreditation program carried out by the International Airports Council, our country is the third country with the highest number of certificates in the world with 52 carbon-free airports. We continue our work towards the zero emission target in aviation by using electric vehicles in 'Follow Me' services at airports."
"It's not just an environmental certificate"
Emphasizing that Samsun is one of Türkiye's strategic production and trade bases with its port, logistics centers, industry, agriculture and location opening to the Black Sea, Uraloğlu said that the Samsun Provincial Zero Waste Target Document was prepared comprehensively, taking these features into consideration.
Stating that the document also covers transportation, construction waste, port and airport operations, urban mobility and resource efficiency, Uraloğlu said, "The Provincial Zero Waste Target Document to be announced here is not only an environmental document, but also a development document covering transportation, construction waste, port and airport operations, urban mobility and resource efficiency." he said.
Stating that, as the Ministry, they will increase the use of recycled materials in construction and maintenance processes and expand zero waste standards in ports and airports, Uraloğlu noted that they will continue to support the transfer of cargo from land to sea and railway with combined transportation.
Uraloğlu stated that they will also contribute to the work of the Zero Waste Board to be established within the Governorship and wished that the Samsun Provincial Zero Waste Target Document would be beneficial to the city and the country.
Minister Uraloğlu also visited the stands with zero waste good practice examples in Samsun.
Samsun Governor Orhan Tavlı, AK Party Samsun MPs Çiğdem Karaaslan, Yusuf Ziya Yılmaz, Ersan Aksu and Orhan Kırcalı, Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Halit Doğan, DHMI Chairman and General Manager Fatih Çakmak, Ondokuz Mayıs University Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın, Samsun University Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmut Aydın, representatives of public institutions and organizations and citizens attended.
