South Africa will host the seventh workshop of the Global Forum of Cities for Circular Economy (GFCCE) this week, aimed at promoting South-South cooperation to improve solid waste management in developing countries.
The event, organised by South Africa’s department of forestry, fisheries and the environment and India’s Centre for Science and Environment, will focus on applying circular economy principles to tackle pressing environmental challenges like waste, climate change and biodiversity loss.
According to a media statement, the event will be attended by representatives from Namibia, Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
A circular economy involves sharing, leasing, reusing, redesigning, refurbishing and recycling existing material and products for as long as possible.
The three principles required for transforming to a circular economy are ‘designing out’ waste and pollution, keeping products and material in use and regenerating natural systems.
According to the GFCCE, more than a third of the world’s population is overwhelmed by waste and the issue is particularly acute in developing countries, across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, collectively known as the Global South.
This region, the GFCCE says, is experiencing a rapid surge in waste generation driven by economic growth and urbanisation.
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