By Abass Jalloh
Sierra Leone's First Lady, Fatima Bio, on Wednesday, September 21 was among delegates at the Global Waste Management Conference held on the margins of the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States of America.
The event was to enhance global commitment to the 'Zero Waste Project' - an initiative of the Turkish First Lady, Emine Erdogan, launched in 2017 to reduce the effect of waste on climate change.
In her brief statement, Madam Bio emphasized the need for “collaboration and cooperation on proper waste management across the globe for a healthy society”.
She recalled her visit to Turkey last year saw a range of issues discussed with respect to collaborating and strengthening ties between the two countries.
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, confirmed that Turkey’s first lady would lead the project to be implemented globally under the umbrella of the UN to fight against climate change.
In her statement Madam Erdogan said the issue of waste is also a matter of justice and equality, noting that the project is “crucial” as it also aims at establishing equality and justice across the world.
The Turkish First Lady and the UN Secretary-General declared “goodwill” for the global promotion of proper waste management.
The declaration captures the link between sustainable waste management and climate change, and the acceleration in the implementation of the strategy on waste prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
The initiative will be supported by focusing on zero waste initiatives, campaigns, programs, projects, and activities to encourage conscious waste generation and consumption, and the development of similar policies on waste management, according to the proclamation.
The proclamation further urged the UN member states, agencies, civil society activists, private sectors, media, and local governments to adopt these approaches to help accelerate the global transition to a circular economy and reduce the negative effect of waste on climate change.
In Sierra Leone, on Thursday, September 22, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development announced the government’s identification of one hundred (100) acres of land at Hastings in Freetown for relocation of the country's largest waste dump site called “Bomeh” at Ferry Junction, Freetown.
It was also announced that the Russian Federation has committed two hundred (200) waste dump trucks to Sierra Leone to facilitate the transportation of waste to various dumpsites.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (26/09/22)
