Deborah Tolu-Kolawole
The European Union has unveiled a collaborative initiative with the Federal Government as part of measures to reduce environmental waste.
This was made known by the Deputy Ambassador, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Zissimos Vergos, on Wednesday, while speaking during an event in Abuja to commemorate the 2024 International Zero Waste Day with the theme, ‘Beat Waste’.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that this year’s theme underscores the top priority to prevent waste from being created in the first place.
He said, “The International Day of Zero Waste highlights both the importance of bolstering waste management globally and the need to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns.
“Every year, humanity generates between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste. However, global waste management services are ill-equipped to handle this, with 2.7 billion people lacking access to solid waste collection and only around 60 per cent of municipal solid waste being managed in controlled facilities.”
Zissimos explained that waste pollution does not only significantly threaten human well-being and economic prosperity, but is part of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution.
He stressed that without urgent action, annual municipal solid waste generation will hit 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050.
“Recognising this major challenge, the European Union initiated the Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency, spearheaded by the EU and UNIDO, with support from the United Nations Environment Programme, and also joined by Nigeria. The initiative fosters international collaboration to address plastic pollution, including in marine environments.
“It is in that vein that we partner with the Federal Ministry of Environment, currently co-chairing the Nigeria Circular Economy Working Group together with UNIDO. The group brings together all strategic stakeholders to boost the implementation of circular economy policies and practices at national and sub-national levels, with a view to inclusive and green growth of the Nigerian economy.
“Our other contributions and achievements include the work on the National Policy on Waste Battery Management of 2021, support to NESREA on the National Environmental (Plastic Waste Control) Regulations of 2023, and last but not least the National Circular Economy Roadmap to be unveiled today,” Zissimos added.
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