Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George says the circular economy has the potential to address some of Africa’s ‘environment complexities’.

The Minister was speaking at the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) Ministerial briefing dinner held in Côte d’Ivoire.

The circular economy refers to a model in which products are re-used and recycled, waste is reduced, and products are re-designed.

‘The circular economy holds the potential to address many of the environmental complexities we face, including the issues related to the theme of this AMCEN [African Ministerial Conference on the Environment] 10th Special Session – drought resilience, land degradation, and desertification.

‘Circular agriculture, for instance, offers solutions for regenerating degraded soils and reducing water stress. By utilising organic waste as a resource, we can enhance soil fertility, improve crop yields, and restore ecosystems,’ George said on Friday.

He emphasised that tackling plastic pollution, ‘
which continues to degrade our lands and rivers’, is as important.

‘The ACEA must play a prominent role in providing technical knowhow on [the] circular economy and extended producer responsibility implementation in processes such as the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.

‘In addition, the recent research by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reveals that agricultural soils may receive greater quantities of microplastics than oceans, affecting both the quality of our soils and our food systems. This is where a circular economy can play a key role in mitigating and addressing plastic pollution,’ the Minister explained.

Taking the lead

George told the gathering that Africa – with all of its rich natural endowments – must be at the forefront of change.

‘Africa must take the lead in developing sustainable alternatives, promoting recycling technologies, and integrating circular ec
onomy principles into the plastics value chain. Moreover, we must consider the role and governance of critical minerals, which are essential for the global green energy transition.

‘Africa’s mineral wealth is unparalleled, but we must extract and manage these resources in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. A circular approach can ensure that we maximise the value of these materials while minimising environmental and social harm.

‘This includes developing frameworks for ‘materials as a service’, extending the lifecycle of products, and fostering technological innovation to reduce the need for new extraction.’

The Minister highlighted that land has a ‘critical role’ to play in Africa’s future circular economy.

‘Africa’s rich biodiversity and vast landscapes are both our greatest asset and our greatest responsibility. The Abidjan Legacy Programme, launched at the UNCCD [United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification] COP15 in May 2022, provides a clear roadmap for advancing towards Land
Degradation Neutrality by 2030.

‘I believe that integrating circular economy principles into this programme will not only help us restore degraded lands but will also contribute to building resilient communities and achieving food security.

‘We have the opportunity to redefine our economic model, not only for the benefit of our environment but also for the future prosperity of our people. Let us seize this moment, using the power of circularity to combat environmental degradation, create jobs, and build the sustainable Africa we envision in Agenda 2063,’ George concluded.

Source: South African Government News Agency