Chronicle Editor
Judith Phiri in Victoria Falls
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has called for the adoption of the circular economy, a model of consumption and production that has little impact as possible on the environment by leaving less of a footprint.
The model decreases material and energy use as well as waste through reducing, recycling, repairing, redesigning and reuse combining economic and environmental gains, while materials stay for as long as possible in the environment.
This comes at a time Zimbabwe is generating 1,65 million tonnes of waste each year of which 18 percent is plastic (0,297 tonnes) which has become a national threat. In a speech read on his behalf by EMA Matabeleland North provincial manager, Mrs Chipo Mpofu-Zuze, at the ninth edition of the CEO Africa Annual Roundtable 2023, the agency’s director general, Mr Aaron Chigona, said the economy was key to fighting climate change.
“The health of the Zimbabwean economy is strongly linked to the condition of the environment and natural resources. The impacts of processing and use of resources, the production of goods and services, transport and waste generation, including greenhouse gas emissions are central to how economic activity generates environmental pressures. That is why we must continue the shift from a linear to a circular economy to make sure society progresses in a way that is environmentally-friendly,” he said.
He said a linear economy which is the traditional model where raw materials are collected and transformed into products that consumers use until discarding them as waste, had no concern for the ecological footprint and consequences.
Mr Chigona said the linear economy prioritises profit over sustainability, with products made to be thrown away once they have been used.
“It we adopt the circular economy, design, production and consumption are all based around sustainability. Production must keep energy consumption to a minimum, using renewable sources and non-polluting raw materials. Products must not have a limited shelf life and be built so they can be repaired or recycled.”
In terms of plastic pollution, he said the international legally binding instrument was the plastic treaty.
Mr Chigona said in February 2022, at the resumed fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) a historic resolution was adopted.
“The instrument was on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. The aim is to complete negotiations by the end of 2024 and create a global, legally binding plastic treaty. Crucially, the resolution addresses the full life cycle of plastic, a holistic approach necessary to tackle the growing pollution crisis,” he added.
Globally 19 to 23 tonnes of plastic pollute the worlds aquatic systems each year.
Mr Chigona said Zimbabwe was actively participating in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the instrument.
“To date, two INC meetings have been held and Zimbabwe has attended both to ensure the just transition for the nation, considering our national circumstances.
“Zimbabwe’s position includes elimination of problematic plastics such as single use plastics and carrier packaging. There is need to reuse and refill solutions for water, extend producer responsibility and deposit return scheme as well as enforcing a recycling policy,” he said.
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