Join us for an upcoming webinar hosted by SMEP Programme’s implementing partner, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Date: Wednesday, 11 December 2024
Time: 14:00 to 15:30 CET
Venue: Online via Zoom
Register Here
Background and rationale
The rapid urbanisation of the global population, with over 4.4 billion people currently residing in cities, has intensified challenges related to waste management. As cities expand, the generation of municipal wastewater, solid waste (both organic and inorganic fractions), and greenhouse gas emissions increases significantly.
Recent studies highlight that while solid waste scales linearly with population growth, wastewater production increases at a superlinear rate, and emissions grow sublinearly. For example, Municipal solid waste generation is predicted to grow from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050 (UNEP, 2014). It is also estimated that, globally, over 80% of all wastewaters produced is discharged into the environment without adequate treatment although the level varies across different regions. The complexity of these challenges, which involve multiple dimensions of pollution beyond GHG emissions, requires innovative solutions that promote circular economy actions at the local level with global support.
A transformative approach, involving a shift from unsustainable consumption and production patterns towards a circular economy across the various fractions of solid waste and water management, is essential. International organisations, by fostering cooperation with Local and Regional Governments (LRGs), can play a critical role in supporting cities to achieve water and solid waste management and material recovery goals that contributes to local socio-economic development and aligns with global sustainability objectives (SDG 6, 11, 12 and 14).
This webinar will explore the transformative solution of collaborative action for sustainable water and solid waste management in urban areas and the potential implications for trade and cities development.
The webinar objectives are three-fold:
Preliminary Programme
Panelists:
- Mr. Graham Alabaster, Head of UN Habitat Geneva Office
- Ms. Gulnara Roll, Head of Cities Unit, UNEP
- Mr. David Vivas Eugui, Chief of Section, Ocean and Circular Economy, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
- Mr. Henrique Pacini, Economic Affairs Officer, Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, UN Trade and Development, (UNCTAD)
- Mr. Victor Neequaye Kotey is the Deputy Director of the Waste Management Department of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly
Moderator:
- Mr. Andras Szorenyi, Senior Policy Advisor, Global Cities Hub
Co-organisers: UNCTAD, UN Habitat, and Global Cities Hub
For more information on the webinar as well as the themes and speakers, please visit the UNCTAD website here.
