ACEA
Sep 9, 2024
The African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) made a compelling case for the transformative power of the circular economy in addressing land degradation, desertification, and drought during the 10th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN). Held on September 6th in Abidjan, the event served as a clarion call for African nations to join the Alliance and seize the vast opportunities presented by the circular economy.
In partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this gathering allowed African Ministers of Environment to delve into the transformative potential of circularity. The circular economy not only aligns with the global agenda but offers a robust solution that couples environmental protection with economic development. It provides realistic answers to pressing challenges such as biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change.
The event was graced by African Ministers including the host Minister, H.E. Jacques Assahore Konan, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition of Côte d'Ivoire and President of AMCEN. Representatives of UN agencies and regional institutions were also present.
The evening was also an occasion to launch the new publication “Reducing plastic pollution in Africa: the imperative of a continental rPET standard for food-contact applications", a collaboration between the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA), Circularium African Advisory, and the Switch to Circular Economy Value Chains.
The event highlighted the importance of seizing these circular opportunities, calling for governments, the private sector, and development organizations to rally behind the African Union’s Circular Economy Action Plan.
“The African Union Commission has prepared a Continental Circular Economy Action Plan for Africa. It serves as a roadmap for the transition to a circular model of economic development. The African Development Bank supports this continental action plan. The Bank’s new 10-year strategy aims to support circular economy by promoting investments in natural capital management, biodiversity, and nature conservation. Beyond investments, the Bank hosts the secretariat of ACEA and has established the Africa Circular Economy Facility ACEF, the only trust fund dedicated to mainstreaming the circular economy in Africa"
Professor Anthony Nyong, African Development Bank's Climate Change and Green Growth Director in his opening remarks
"The decision 17/1 made at the Seventeenth Session of AMCEN, to embrace and promote the circular economy was not merely symbolic. It marked a pivotal shift in how we, as a continent, approach resource management and economic growth. By integrating circular economy principles into our national and regional strategies, we are not only reducing waste and pollution but also creating new opportunities for economic diversification, job creation, and sustainable trade."
Dr. Rose Mwebaza, UN Environment Programme's Regional Director for Africa
“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”
H.E. Dion George, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment of South Africa, in his keynote address
The strategic importance of adopting circular economy practices, urging African nations to embrace this win-win approach is highlighted on the Abidjan Declaration on raising Africa’s ambition to reduce desertification, land degradation, and drought : "To reiterate the commitment made at 17th Ordinary session of the AMCEN to raise awareness on the circular economy and to encourage members states to join and support the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) to harness the benefits of circular economy to minimize resource extraction, generate green jobs and safeguard the planet, in line with Africa’s ambition to reduce land degradation, desertification and drought"
Reports like UNEP's 2024 Global Resource Outlook and the 2024 Circularity Gap Report by the Circle Economy Foundation and Deloitte amplify the urgency. In 2023, the consumption of 500 gigatons of materials—including freshwater, land, and minerals—represented 28% of all materials used since 1900. Alarmingly, 83% of African countries rely heavily on their natural resources, making sustainable practices non-negotiable to combat rapid depletion and mitigate global greenhouse gas emissions.
Backed by the African Development Bank’s Africa Circular Economy Facility (ACEF), ACEA is at the forefront of advancing circular economy initiatives across the continent. Through the AfriCircular Innovators Programme, ACEA and ACEF are empowering 30 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Rwanda to scale their circular solutions. Additionally, the Alliance is playing a pivotal role in helping Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, and Uganda develop comprehensive circular economy roadmaps through the National Circular Economy Roadmap project.
The Ministerial Dinner was a pivotal moment, rallying for a united commitment to sustainable development and economic resilience through circular practices.