Circular Economy Must Be Embraced By All African Countries To Deal With Climate Change Challenges – Finnish Minister
An official from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday shared his country’s experiences in getting a wider public understanding in circular economy which he wants African countries to emulate.
The official, Mr Juha Savolainen, who was speaking to the media at the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group AGM in Accra, said to make the process of entrenching the concept in the psyche of the people of his country a road map has been developed.
This includes the realization that going digital in all spheres of life provides an easy route in confronting the challenges posed by climate change.
“In fulfilling our circular economy demands, our food systems, building projects, management of waste and rehabilitating contaminated lands have become climate change sensitive and have all been added as components of our road map.”
Mr Savolainen said as part of the national agenda, about 70,000 students at all levels of education are being taught circular economy as an academic programme in school.
“Issues concerning the consequences of climate change confront everybody so learning about it in school helps to sustain public understanding and interest,” he said.
In 2017, Finland hosted the first world’s circular forum which was a big success.
“Lessons we learnt as a country in hosting the Forum are several. For example, we developed blue prints in dealing with the challenges posed by climate change,” he noted.
Mr Savolainen therefore called on African counties to initiate legislations and other actions as a step in embracing the benefits of a circular economy.
Mr. Sovalainen therefore called on African countries to also embrace the circular economy concept because as he put it, “Effects of climate change will be endured up to the next 20 years even if the current situation does not become worse”.
The next World Circular Economy Forum will be held in Kigali, Rwanda at the end of the year.
Story by Fokuo George Dwomoh (Nana Fokuo Dwomoh)