MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) – Reducing waste while promoting recycling and reuse, known as the ‘circular economy,’ will be important to stop environmental loss by meeting growing demand with fewer resources and will enable communities to cope with climate change through promotion. sustainable practices on the African continent, organizers of the World Economic Forum said on Wednesday.
The conference, which brings together climate and economic experts and businesses and ideas, is held in the capital of Rwanda Kigali – the first in the south of the world.
“It is much easier to adapt now than the costs we will incur if we wait,” said Wanjira Maathai of the World Resources Institute at the forum. It is time we look at (the circular economy) as a driver of African development.”
The three-day forum, which ends on Thursday, advocates a shift to an economic model that promotes the use of less inputs and promotes what are known as renewable agricultural practices such as crop rotation or using fewer chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The talks will push nature-based solutions to enhance natural resources such as restoration. Many on the continent are already exploring how to use waste in new ways.
At the opening ceremony on Tuesday, Rwanda’s environment minister Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya said the continent must promote local knowledge to youth, innovators and entrepreneurs to accelerate the continent’s development progress “without repeating the mistakes made by developed countries.”
The challenge for developing countries is to improve living standards without using fossil fuels like the nations of the global north, climate experts say. Many on the continent are already looking to reduce waste and promote recycling as a way to improve living standards.
Mtamu Kililo, a Kenyan architect and member of the African Circular Economy Network, says he is using new construction materials made from agricultural waste, such as garbage, or sugarcane waste, coconuts and rice husks to reduce sound and noise.
“Changing perceptions is the biggest challenge we face. “But we are moving forward as people are starting to see the benefits of our products and are willing to reduce waste,” said Kililo.
Other industries use the same model in agriculture, textile and plastic, but large investments and a concerted effort by governments to switch to this type of economy are needed for these ideas to take off, many at the forum said.
Investing in the circular economy is “a real investment in climate action and environmental protection,” Jyrki Katainen, president of Finnish think tank Sitra, told The Associated Press.
Finding new ways to use waste “will help governments and businesses respond to the biggest challenges of our time: sustainable economic development, climate change and environmental protection,” said Adriana Zacarias Farah of the UN Environment Programme.
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