Babatunde Ahonsi

How can countries learn from each other to reduce waste, create jobs and tackle climate change? At #COP31, UNOSSC Director Dima Al-Khatib highlighted how sharing practical experience – from improving local waste collection to helping businesses reuse materials – can turn climate goals into benefits for communities. The Director delivered opening remarks at Zero Waste and South-South Cooperation: Translating Climate Goals into Locally Owned Action, convened by TİKA, UN Türkiye and the Office of the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion. The Director emphasized that successful solutions must be adapted to local needs, with communities and national institutions shaping how they work. This is particularly important for least developed countries and small island developing States seeking greater access to technologies, expertise and financing. Drawing on Türkiye’s experience and TİKA’s partnerships, countries can exchange approaches and develop joint initiatives. The Director highlighted the new Global Alliance for South-South and Triangular Cooperation as a platform to exchange experiences, connect development needs with expertise and proven solutions, and bring potential partners together. Through the Alliance, practical approaches from Türkiye and partner countries can gain wider visibility, reach interested partners and inspire further cooperation across the Global South. The Director encouraged partners to identify concrete initiatives to advance over the coming year—carrying cooperation beyond COP31 and into lasting local action. Learn about the Global Alliance: unsouthsouth.org/global-alli… #ZeroWaste #CircularEconomy #SouthSouthCooperation #TriangularCooperation #ClimateAction #SDGs Explore all UNOSSC events at #COP31: unsouthsouth.org/unossc-at-c… @Tika_Turkiye @tika_eng @UN_Turkiye @AhonsiBA @UNDP @csbgovtr @abdullah_eren

“Countries across the Global South share many challenges. They also have valuable solutions, expertise and institutional experience.” At #COP31, UNOSSC Director Dima Al-Khatib highlighted how satellite Earth Observation data, national expertise and international cooperation can help countries make better decisions and accelerate climate action. Speaking at the joint UNOSSC-European Space Agency event at the UN Türkiye Pavilion, the Director emphasized that access to data must be accompanied by the skills and institutional capacities to use it in policy, planning and investment – particularly in small island developing States, least developed countries and landlocked developing countries. The UNOSSC-ESA partnership is advancing demonstration initiatives with institutions in Türkiye, Colombia, Guatemala, Jamaica and Mauritius, among others, covering urban planning, disaster resilience and coastal and marine management. #SouthSouthCooperation and #TriangularCooperation are built into these initiatives from the outset, where participating institutions are both users and providers of solutions, sharing methodologies and experience that other countries can adapt to their own priorities. The Director outlined three priorities: strengthen national capacities, deepen cross-border learning, and mobilize partnerships and resources to move from demonstrations to lasting development impact. Through the Global Alliance for South-South and Triangular Cooperation, UNOSSC is helping connect country needs with technical expertise, financing institutions and partners. Explore all UNOSSC events at #COP31: unsouthsouth.org/unossc-at-c… #EarthObservation #ClimateAction #SDGs @esa @ESA_EO @UN_Turkiye @AhonsiBA @fatmavarank @csbgovtr @tuajans @UNDP @marcosathias @WFP @ADB_HQ @IIED @GeoVille_GmbH @Deltares @IPCC_CH @Microsoft

From #COP31 in Antalya to communities on the front lines of climate change, #SouthSouthCooperation is delivering practical results. UNOSSC Director Dima Al-Khatib was pleased to meet Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi (@AhonsiBA), UN Resident Coordinator in Türkiye, and thank him for @UN_Turkiye’s support for UNOSSC’s COP31 engagement and leadership in advancing #SouthSouth and #TriangularCooperation for climate action. Their conversation explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation and share practical climate solutions across developing countries. Türkiye’s experience in zero waste, circular economy and disaster resilience offers promising avenues for collaboration with least developed countries and small island developing States. Through the new Global Alliance for South-South and Triangular Cooperation, UNOSSC looks forward to helping connect these opportunities with country needs and partners – and carrying the momentum of COP31 into concrete initiatives. Join UNOSSC at our #COP31 events! Read more: unsouthsouth.org/unossc-at-c…