The theme for the symposium was “Waste to Energy” - Waste Management & Transformation Opportunities in The Gambia. The circular economy symposium was the first edition. It looked into the hurdles of deforestation within the Gambian community and how to work towards a cleaner environment in our societies.
Bobo Jallow, a representative of the ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources in his remarks said The Gambia is among a few countries committed to meeting the Paris Agreement to keep global warming below 1.5C.
“Majority of waste generated in The Gambia is disposed of at informal dump sites or burned in backyards. When burnt, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide gases are emitted. When the waste is wet and rots, the major greenhouse gas emitted is Methane (GH4). Methane emissions from the organic component of solid waste is 364GgCO2e and from waste water is 98GgCO2e. Open dumping and burning of waste also lead to poor health, economic losses, and has been recognised at both local and national levels as a priority for sustainable development. Uncollected waste pollutes the River Gambia and fragiles mangrove and riverine systems, groundwater, agricultural land, livestock and fisheries,” he said.
Mr. Jallow implored the private sector to explore the mitigation of climate change, and waste management in the country.
James Bahoum, a representative of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry highlighted the private sector strives towards waste management and transformation in The Gambia.
Mr Bahoum pointed out that the Banjul Declarations continues to have reverberations and repulse, noting that, “Sir Dawda among all his peers was a visionary who saw and knew that our environment was experiencing gradual degradation as early as 1977.”
He stated that there is hardly any area of the economy where the private sector can be left out as stated in the National Development Plan. He described the private sector as the engine of development, jobs creation and introduction of innovative ideas.
Famzia Diab Ghanim, vice president of KairaCLO thanked the board for KairaCLO for their relentlessness in persevering the legacy of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara.
