Addis ababa: Ethiopia's Environmental Protection Authority Director General, Lelise Neme, emphasized that implementing a circular economy is crucial for ensuring sustainable development and meeting both national and continental development goals. Her remarks were made during the opening of the 8th International Forum on Cities and Circular Economy, which gathered policymakers, experts, and development partners to tackle the growing solid waste challenge in rapidly urbanizing areas.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the three-day forum, which included participants from 15 African countries, aimed to explore effective waste management solutions and encourage experience sharing among member states. Studies show that solid waste generation in Sub-Saharan African cities is increasing at a worrying rate, leading to complex environmental and urban management issues. In 2016, cities in the region produced 174 million tons of solid waste, a figure expected to rise to 522 million tons by 2050 without effective interventions.
The Forum on Cities and Solid Waste Circular Economy was created as a collaborative platform to address these challenges by promoting innovative solutions, enhancing partnerships, and advancing sustainable waste management practices. Lelise Neme highlighted the forum's role in discussing environmental policy, sustainable development, and the future of cities. She mentioned that the Ethiopian government is pursuing ambitious goals through initiatives such as the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy and the National Circular Economy Roadmap.
She stated that a circular economy is vital for Ethiopia's sustainable development, resilient city-building, and advancement of national and continental development goals. These frameworks aim to decouple economic growth from resource consumption and environmental degradation by strengthening sustainable waste management and recycling systems, including plastics, batteries, and electronic waste.
Key measures also include promoting eco-industrial parks, extended producer responsibility systems, transitioning to clean energy and green transport, and supporting green entrepreneurship, especially among youth and women. Fanta Dejene, State Minister of Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure, warned that rapid urbanization is generating large waste volumes that threaten human health, the environment, and resources if not managed properly. He noted that the ministry is working to transform solid waste into valuable economic resources to ensure sustainable urban growth.
Indian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Anil Kumar Rai, highlighted India's experience in waste recycling and green job creation, reaffirming his country's support for member states through technology transfer, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building initiatives. Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment, emphasized the need for strong public awareness in implementing a circular economy, particularly in waste segregation at the source, and called for coordinated efforts among governments, institutions, and communities.
The Addis Ababa City Cleansing Management Agency shared its best practices in waste recycling and highlighted its riverside development initiatives and the ongoing Corridor Development Project in Addis Ababa during the forum. The event concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Environmental Protection Authority and the Centre for Science and Environment to strengthen cooperation on circular economy initiatives and sustainable waste management.