By Doh Bertrand Nua
The Parliamentary Network for Circular Economy, PANCEC, alongside experts from diverse fields and stakeholders in the sector have unveiled the environmental and economic benefits of transiting from the linear to circular economy to Members of Parliament, MPs.
PANCEC President, Hon. Ngala Gerard talking to reporters
This was during a multi-stakeholder dialogue and capacity building partnership workshop held at the National Assembly Wednesday 18 November 2020. The training was under the theme “Circular Economy: working towards a sustainable future”.
It underscored the basic principles of extending the life cycles of the economy and create a foundation based on the principle of zero waste to landfills and repurpose products, by disassembling, refurbishing and re-using.
Hon. Ngala Gerard
In his address, the President of PANCEC, Hon. Ngala Gerard, told his peers that circular economy will serve as a major job creation medium that will move the country’s economy to another level.
He added that circular economy will offer a great system-shift that builds on long-term resilience, generates businesses, creates economic opportunities, provides environmental and societal benefits and would help fast-track Cameroon’s 2035 emergence vision.
“We want to make sure that all the decentralised local collectivises are autonomous financially...councils will use circular economy to make a lot of gains in their communities thereby being financially autonomous,” Ngala said.
The MP noted that circular economy will help create industries that will transform waste into worth and make sure waste is not dump into the landfills to pollute the environment.
Aside schooling lawmakers on knowledge of circular economy, Hon. Ngala, said the training also aimed at bringing together the stakeholders and the MPs.
This he explained was to enable the stakeholders to present to the Parliamentarians their circular economy plan of action and other things they have been doing in that direction in order preserve the environment.
MPs, experts pose for group pic with PANCEC members
Hon. Ngala called for collective efforts between stakeholders in the respect of the 3-R approach of reduce, reuse and recycle.
He urged all and sundry to comply with all international conventions ratified by government including and national legal instruments that regulates enironmental protection.
The PANCEC President said through the training, government and the parliament will be inspired to draw environmental-friendly policies, adopt new norms and principles towards protecting the environment and bring companies not respecting the said laws to book.
Experts at the training were drawn from the Ministry of Environment and nature protection, Agriculture and rural development, African Development Bank, United Cities and Councils of Cameroon, BOCOM, HYSACAM, FONCHAM International, METAFRIQUE, Zone Industrial and many others.
The training hinged on the production and distribution chain of brewing industries, hazardous waste disposal, municipality waste collection and management, legislative and regulatory framework of environment management, decentralised structures in the management, collection and disposal of waste from Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) based on the best available technologies (BAT) and Best Environment Practices (BEP), model of recycling, role of banking sector in the promotion of circular economy among many others.
Opening the training on behalf of the House Speaker, Hon. Theophile Baoro, lauded PANCEC members for coming up with the timely initiative especially at a time the country’s economy is being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said PANCEC has come in as a solution to the linear economy practiced in the country. He pledge the full support of parliament to the activities and objectives of the network.
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