H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK addressed the commemoration of the United Nations World Environment Day, held on 29 June 2026 at the premises of the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah.

The event was organized by the OIC General Secretariat in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Türkiye to the OIC, under the broader World Environment Day 2026 theme “A Global Call for Climate Action.” It brought together representatives of OIC Member States and Observer States, as well as relevant OIC institutions, to reaffirm collective commitment to environmental protection, sustainable development, and climate action.

The event featured the participation of H.E. Ambassador Aftab Ahmad Khokher, OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Science and Technology; H.E. Ambassador Cenk Uraz, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Türkiye to the OIC; H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryan, Director-General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS); H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK, Director General of SESRIC; H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of the Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH); and representatives of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC), and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

H.E. SELÇUK delivered her address under the theme “Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development: Accelerating the Transition to Clean Energy Sources in OIC Member States.” In her address, she underlined that renewable energy is a development priority closely connected to energy security, economic diversification, cleaner air, healthier communities, new skills, quality jobs, and stronger public services.

Referring to SESRIC’s latest environmental analysis, H.E. SELÇUK noted that greenhouse gas emissions in OIC countries increased by 91% over the last decades, compared with 53% globally. At the same time, average per capita carbon dioxide emissions in OIC countries stood at 2.60 tonnes, remaining below the world average of 4.62 tonnes. She further highlighted that the energy sector accounts for more than half of greenhouse gas emissions in OIC countries, with electricity and heat production alone representing 21.3%.

She also drew attention to the growing environmental pressures faced by OIC countries, noting that 28 OIC countries face water stress, including 16 at critical levels. In this regard, she stressed the importance of stronger environmental action, sustainable resource management, and cleaner development pathways.

H.E. SELÇUK referred to the growing role of OIC countries in global climate diplomacy, from COP27 in Egypt to COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, COP29 in Azerbaijan, and the forthcoming COP31 in Türkiye. In this context, she commended the Republic of Türkiye as it prepares to host COP31 in Antalya in November 2026, noting that this important gathering will provide another opportunity to connect climate ambition with practical implementation.

She further highlighted Türkiye’s Zero Waste Initiative, which has grown into a globally recognized movement and contributed to the designation of 30 March as the International Day of Zero Waste by the United Nations General Assembly. H.E. SELÇUK stated that this initiative demonstrates how national commitment, public awareness, and international cooperation can move together towards stronger environmental action.

In her remarks, H.E. SELÇUK underlined the importance of enhanced cooperation among OIC countries in renewable energy, clean energy financing, energy efficiency, off-grid solutions, and capacity development. She noted that the forthcoming Second OIC Ministerial Conference on Energy, to be hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will serve as an important opportunity to strengthen a common vision, encourage practical cooperation, and translate clean energy ambitions into bankable projects and lasting partnerships.

She also referred to the new OIC Programme of Action 2026–2035, which SESRIC profoundly contributed to, and which treats energy as a standalone priority area and places stronger emphasis on renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean energy financing, and off-grid solutions for underserved regions.

Concluding her address, H.E. SELÇUK reaffirmed SESRIC’s readiness to continue supporting OIC countries through its three mandate areas of statistics, research, and training. She emphasized that SESRIC will continue to work closely with the OIC General Secretariat, Member Countries, relevant OIC institutions, national institutions, and international partners to support a cleaner and more sustainable energy future across the OIC region.

Photos