Circular Economy and Climate Change in Developing Economies

Author(s):  
James Osabuohien Odia

The CE represents a new model for resilient growth in both developed and developing economies that would help to tackle the causes and devastating effects of climate change and climate change risks, meet the 1.5 degree target of the Paris Agreement, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The CE practices can help to reduce greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, and nitro-oxide) to net zero emissions by 2050 through efficient resources use, elongation of product lifetime, recycling, recovery, reuse, materials substitution, efficient waste reduction and management, sharing service, among others. Given the numerous economic opportunities, innovation, and policy progresses, developing countries should transit to the CE pathway by aligning the CE strategies with the mitigation of climate change and the achievement of SDGs, synergize the CE practices with the existing national policies, and mainstream across sectoral strategy and policy development.

Author(s):  
Kwaku Oduro-Appiah ◽  
Anne Scheinberg ◽  
Kodwo Miezah ◽  
Anthony Mensah ◽  
Nanne K. de Vries

The demands of the circular economy and the sustainable development goals call for a critical appraisal of the solid waste management systems of developing economies to divert decision-making towards the development of sustainable strategies and support systems for purposes of modernization. This chapter uses a combination of literature review, network queries to key experts within municipalities, and the authors' experiences and outputs of an ongoing collaborative research to evaluate and present the realities of solid waste management and recycling in Ghana. The goal is to chart a locally appropriate and sustainable pathway to drive system improvement. The analysis and evidence suggest that structural and coordinated cooperation between researchers of higher educational and research institutions and municipal authorities creates an enabling platform to build human resource capacities, to bridge data gaps, to identify what works, and to drive decision-makers' commitment towards the development of realistic action plans and continuous policy strategies.


Author(s):  
Luis Gomez-Echeverri

One of the greatest achievements in the global negotiations of 2015 that delivered the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development or Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change is that, for the first time, the linkages between climate and development were enshrined in each of the documents. This was done in recognition that climate change and development need to be addressed together in order not only to avoid harmful trade-offs and high costs, particularly for poorer countries, but also to exploit the benefits that come from strengthening these linkages. This review presents some of the latest data that argue for stronger linkages as well as the challenges of implementation which are not only politically and economically related but also include issues such as knowledge gaps, finance and governance. Finally, the review also presents a glimpse at the pathways that will be required to reach the ambitious global temperature targets of the Paris Agreement of less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels with efforts to limit temperature rise even further to 1.5°C. This provides the context for some conclusions and recommendations for policy-makers, including on methodologies for assessing linkages and leveraging them for greater benefit. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The Paris Agreement: understanding the physical and social challenges for a warming world of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels’.


Obiter ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ademola O Jegede ◽  
Azwihangwisi W Makulana

South Africa is exposed to climate vulnerabilities owing to its socio-economic and environmental situations. It is, therefore, not a surprise that it is a signatory to: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change the Kyoto Protocol ; and the 2015 Paris Agreement, and has endorsed the Sustainable Development Goals, and thereby committed to contribute to the global effort to reduce and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.Both the Paris Agreement in its article 3 and SDG No. 13, respectively, require every nation to undertake effort with a view to addressing climate change. The application of the above instruments for the purpose of addressing climate change is important but, in reality, states hardly divert their attention to climate change while pursuing economic development objectives. Whether and to what extent a court can compel government and its agents in South Africa to take the impact of climate change into consideration in its developmental pursuit is the main subject matter of Earthlife Africa Johannesburg v Minister of Environmental Affairs (Thabametsi) ((2017) JOL 37526 (GP)). Although a High Court decision, Thabametsi is the first case of its kind to engage with climate-change impact assessment in South Africa.


Author(s):  
Andrew Harmer ◽  
Jonathan Kennedy

This chapter explores the relationship between international development and global health. Contrary to the view that development implies ‘good change’, this chapter argues that the discourse of development masks the destructive and exploitative practices of wealthy countries at the expense of poorer ones. These practices, and the unregulated capitalist economic system that they are part of, have created massive inequalities between and within countries, and potentially catastrophic climate change. Both of these outcomes are detrimental to global health and the millennium development goals and sustainable development goals do not challenge these dynamics. While the Sustainable Development Goals acknowledge that inequality and climate change are serious threats to the future of humanity, they fail to address the economic system that created them. Notwithstanding, it is possible that the enormity and proximity of the threat posed by inequality and global warming will energise a counter movement to create what Kate Raworth terms ‘an ecologically safe and socially just space’ for the global population while there is still time.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gislaine Ap. Moreira ◽  
Emilia Wanda Rutkoskwi

When adopting the zero waste strategy for the implementation of waste management measures at a Higher Education Institution, the commitment in the institution is of fundamental importance, not only with solid waste, but with the sustainability issue under a circular economy perspective, which should gradually be incorporated to the different programs and routine actions from universities. Several directions can be taken in the construction of this path so that universities are managed under the sustainability’s premises. In this article, the zero waste strategy for implementation of a circular economy program will be analyzed as a way to consolidate the process Green Campus. A qualitative and exploratory research was undertaken on green campus and zero waste strategies, mainly in universities. Although there is still a limited number of universities committed to zero waste actions, it was possible to appoint the benefits when implementing institutional programs related to sustainability and the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals.


2021 ◽  
Vol 250 ◽  
pp. 06007
Author(s):  
Elena Korneeva ◽  
Natalia Skornichenko ◽  
Tatiana Oruch

Sustainable development is becoming a very important issue in the 21st century. Facing global changes such as the global warming, global climate change, as well as other pressing issue, all spheres of economy and social life need to take part in mitigating them and preventing disasters from happening. Our article studies the role of the small business in the above processes and the place of the small business in promoting sustainable development through its actions, public and social awareness and responsibility. We show how even small and medium enterprises can become a decisive power in tackling the climate change and promoting green thinking and sustainable awareness. This can be achieved through enhancing social responsibility of business companies which can greatly contribute to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and promoting sustainable economic growth.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Miguel Rodríguez-Antón

No one has the slightest doubt about the enormous potential that the African continent has as a tourist destination. The diversity of cultures, the great biodiversity that it possesses, the multiple artistic manifestations that it offers and the beauty of the seas that surround it are key pieces in continuing to promote its capacity as a tourist attraction, which is approximately 60 million tourists per year who generate seven percent of exports and employment. However, in order for Africa to take off, it is necessary that a number of conditions related to security, health, education, eradication of poverty, reduction of inequalities, peace and justice and quality of its waters, among others, are intimately related to the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda. In this context, we maintain that the implementation of the Circular Economy in Africa will be a key tool in this process of improving the sustainability of this continent in its three aspects, economic, social and environmental, and raising its level of tourism competitiveness.


Author(s):  
Dr. Basanta Kalita

The SDGs agenda is the outcome of a series of international conferences on the issue of environmental sustainability. A principle of common and differentiated responsibility was endorsed by the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992) and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20 (2012). The political commitments from the world leaders were confirmed during the 3rd International Conference on Financing for Development held in Addis Ababa in July 2015 for a common policy on sustainable development. The goals are broad based and interdependent. Finally the Paris Declaration on Climate Change (2016) paved the way for the adoption of a comprehensive list of goals to be achieved by 2030. Each of the 17 sustainable development goals has a list of targets which are measured with indicators and are interdependent. The present study will be confined to the 6th goal which is ensuring “Clean water and Sanitation” in the Indian context. KEYWORDS: SDGs agenda, Climate Change, employment, sanitation services


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