Mr. Keriako Tobiko, Cabinet Secretary of Kenya’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry,
Mrs. Lea Wermelin, Minister for Environment, Denmark
Ms. Carole Kariuki, CEO of KEPSA CEO.
My thanks to Cabinet Secretary Tobiko and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Kenya, for organizing this event.
At this gathering of UNEA 5.2, you have heard much about the impact of the triple planetary crisis. I won’t re-tread this ground here. What I will say is that the core driver of the crisis is unsustainable consumption and production. It is far beyond time to move to circular economic models and deliver benefits across the environment and economy.
Making our economies circular could unlock USD 4.5 trillion of economic growth and create millions of jobs.
The case for circularity is compelling. Circularity could reduce the annual volume of plastics entering our oceans by over 80 per cent. It could halve the emissions of the food sector by 2050. In buildings and construction, improved recycling in the G7 could save an extra 14-18 per cent of material cycle greenhouse gas emissions.
We need to start implement circular principles.
This is already happening through regional initiatives like the African Circular Economy Alliance. Kenya has also proven itself a leader on circularity – through the Sustainable Waste Management Bill and Policy, the Kenya Plastics Action plan and banning single-use plastic bags. This is solid progress. But we need to move on four game changers to accelerate the circularity transition.
Game changer one: make sustainable consumption and production and circularity more central to multilateral negotiations and regional processes.
At UNEA 5.2, we saw exactly this take place. The resolution to start negotiations on a global plastic pollution agreement puts circularity front and centre. Nationally and regionally, we could see whole new markets emerge as plastic waste becomes a resource in a circular plastics economy.
Kenya’s Sustainable Waste Management Policy and National Marine Litter Management Action Plan will be crucial in paving the way for concrete action. UNEP looks forward to supporting Kenya’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution as it moves towards the implementation phase of these plans.
Game changer two: promote shifts in policies, governance, regulation, infrastructure, investment and business models towards a just and informed transition to circularity.
For example, incorporate circularity in government procurement decisions, which represent up to 30 per cent of GDP in many developing countries. Shifts can also help products produced sustainably in countries like Kenya to find new markets, domestically and internationally.
Game changer three, transform economic and financial systems to power the shift to circularity.
The regulatory environment is creating space for private finance, incentivizing business models that promote circular approaches. The actions central banks take are key to bring commercial banks, insurance companies and export credit agencies into this space. We are already seeing interest in Kenya from commercial banks like KCB.
Game changer four: invest in skills and training to ensure workers have access to decent, safe and attractive job opportunities.
Opportunities in the circular economy are likely to concentrate on recycling and offering maintenance services. We must support the shift in countries and industries that rely heavily on linear models – improving safety in the informal sector on everything from cars to e-waste.
Friends,
Linear take, make and waste economies are killing our planet. Circular models, on the other hand, can put humanity back into harmony with nature – because nature itself is circular. Echoing nature’s circularity is the best way to end the triple planetary crisis and allow humanity to thrive for centuries to come.
Thank you.
