ANTALYA, Türkiye – November 13, 2026 – The First Lady of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Madame Ancelly Simina, represented the Pacific at the High-Level Meeting of Spouses of Leaders on the Global Zero Waste Alliance, held on November 11, 2026, in Antalya, Türkiye, on the margins of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31).
The gathering brought together spouses of leaders from around the world and was hosted by the First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye. The meeting provided a platform for sharing perspectives, experiences, and collective approaches to advancing sustainable waste management and promoting a global culture of responsible resource use.
Speaking on behalf of the FSM and Pacific perspective, First Lady Simina highlighted the challenge and need for effective waste management in protecting the environment, safeguarding public health, and securing a sustainable future for island communities.
Reflecting on the broader significance of the issue, First Lady Simina emphasized that addressing waste goes beyond statistics, policies, and technology, calling for a shift in individual and collective attitudes.
“It is about a mindset. It is about respect: respect for our resources, respect for our environment, and respect for future generations,” she stated.
She acknowledged that waste management remains an important and ongoing challenge for island nations, including the FSM, where the protection of fragile marine and terrestrial ecosystems is closely connected to the everyday choices made by households, communities, businesses, and governments.
In her remarks, First Lady Simina outlined the FSM’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its approach to waste management through five key areas: policy, public awareness, landfill management, collection and disposal, and recycling spearheaded by the Department of Environment, Climate Change & Emergency Management.
First Lady Simina noted that, as an island nation heavily dependent on imported goods, the FSM has taken steps towards addressing its waste management challenges. These include the enactment of a law in 2020 restricting the importation of single-use plastics, Styrofoam products, and plastic shopping bags, as well as participation in regional initiatives such as the 3R Plus Return initiative, which supports the collection and return of PET plastic bottles for recycling.
She emphasized that while government policies and initiatives provide an important starting point, addressing waste management cannot be achieved by government alone, and requires the collective effort of all including businesses, communities, schools and families, with everyone playing a role in reducing waste and not polluting.
She further noted the importance of strengthening community participation across all four states, including through initiatives in the FSM such as the Zero Waste Academy, which seeks to encourage practical, locally driven approaches to waste prevention.
Emphasizing the intergenerational responsibility of environmental stewardship, First Lady Simina reflected on the importance of leaving a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations.
“As a mother, I often think about the world we will leave to our children. They are watching the choices we make today. They will inherit the consequences of our actions, but they will also inherit the solutions we build together,” she shared in her address.
First Lady Simina’s participation at the meeting provided an opportunity to bring Pacific perspectives into the global conversation on Zero Waste, while highlighting the importance of inclusive partnerships, community engagement, and practical solutions that reflect the realities of island nations.
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