03 July 2024, Dar es Salaam Tanzania- On the second day of the International Zero Waste Cities Conference hosted by GAIA and Nipe Fagio, local Tanzanian government officials as well as climate and zero waste experts gathered for a pivotal media briefing to advocate for local solutions to global problems through the advancement of zero waste across the globe. This event, held in Dar es Salaam, brought together government leaders, zero waste practitioners, financial institutions, and philanthropic organizations to engage in deep discussions and share best practices including successful implementations in the waste sector.
Speakers at the event included Hon. Mahmoud Mussa, Mayor of Zanzibar; John Morton, World Bank; Magdalena Donoso, GAIA Latin America and Caribbean; Froilan Grate, GAIA Asia Pacific; Ana Rocha, Nipe Fagio; Jack McQuibban, Zero Waste Europe; and Marcel Howard, GAIA US and Canada.
Speakers looked at zero waste from a climate and environmental justice perspective. They discussed enabling factors for successful zero waste systems, building alliances for zero waste implementation, the potential of zero waste in reducing methane emissions and the commonalities among Global South countries working on zero waste. The importance of environmental justice in the solid waste management sector was also a key point of discussion. One of the highlights was the local perspectives of how zero waste has been advanced in Tanzania with the specific success cases of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.
QUOTES:
- Magdalena Donoso, GAIA Latin America and Caribbean: “Indigenous peoples provide a world view, and traditional uses close to the systemic and holistic dimensions that zero waste promotes. Latin America is the only region in the world where the rights of nature have been constitutionally recognized, and therefore we as human beings have the obligation to design systems to take care of it” – Magdalena Donoso, GAIA Latin America and Caribbean
- Froilan Grate, GAIA Asia Pacific: “Exchanges like the ones we had for Tanzania and the Philippines are a great way to harness the diverse knowledge we have in the movement – it serves as an affirmation for the good things that are happening but also a great way for bilateral learnings, as every model has a unique story to share”. – Froilan Grate, GAIA Asia Pacific
- Jack McQuibban, Zero Waste Europe: “Within the EU, the shared legislative framework binds municipalities around shared goals and targets. This means when a target is set, such as 65% recycling by 2035 or a ban on single-use plastic items, they’re applied across all 27 countries and 500+ million people. This system fosters greater connection and support at the local level, with the basis of any conversation being the shared framework all municipalities are working within”. – Jack McQuibban, Zero Waste Europe
- Marcel Howard, GAIA US and Canada: “Colonialism and capitalism can be credited with creating the existing waste and climate crisis that we’re currently dealing with. And that’s why environmental justice is so important because it works to dismantle these structures” – Marcel Howard, GAIA US / Canada
The International Zero Waste Cities Conference originated in the Asia Pacific region, where it was first launched in 2009. In 2023, the baton was passed to the African region, signifying the spirit of cross-regional exchange that forms the bedrock of this conference. Over 200 Representatives from several countries including the Philippines, Chile, the United States of America, Senegal, Ethiopia, Uganda, India, France, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil, Indonesia, Portugal, Tanzania, and many more countries are attending this highly interactive event. It aims to foster mutual inspiration and encourage further replication of zero-waste initiatives. The three-day event included panel discussions, keynote addresses, launches of various local initiatives, a site visit to a zero waste community in Dar es Salaam, and a documentary screening.
For more information on the conference, you can visit: https://www.no-burn.org/zero-waste-conferences/
About GAIA:
GAIA is a network of grassroots groups as well as national and regional alliances representing more than 1000 organizations from 92 countries. With our work we aim to catalyze a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution. We envision a just, Zero Waste world built on respect for ecological limits and community rights, where people are free from the burden of toxic pollution, and resources are sustainably conserved, not burned or dumped. www.no-burn.org
About Nipe Fagio:
Nipe Fagio, a GAIA member based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is co-hosting the International Zero Waste Cities Conference. This local organization has been building cooperative-led zero waste systems in Tanzania since 2019, and sees great potential in the formation and formalization of waste collection cooperatives in reducing the city’s waste and carbon footprint. For example, Wakusanya Taka Bonyokwa Cooperative Society’s contribution to separate collection helped to divert more than 80% of the waste generated in a low-income sub-ward of Bonyokwa, in the Ilala district in Dar es Salaam through composting, reuse, and recycling. https://nipefagio.co.tz/
Media Contacts:
Nipe Fagio Communications | Olarip Tomito | olary@nipefagio.co.tz
[SWAHILI]
TAARIFA KWA VYOMBO VYA HABARI: 03 Julai 2024, Saa 8 Mchana Saa za Tanzania
Maafisa wa Serikali na Wataalam wa Hali ya Hewa Wanahimiza Mfumo wa Taka Sifuri kushughlulikia Masuala ya Kimataifa.
03 Julai 2024, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Katika siku ya pili ya Mkutano wa Kimataifa wa Miji ya Taka Sifuri ulioandaliwa na GAIA na Nipe Fagio, maafisa wa serikali wa Tanzania pamoja na wataalam wa hali ya hewa na Mfumo wa Taka Sifuri walikusanyika kwa ajili ya mkutano muhimu wa vyombo vya habari ili kuhimiza Suluhu za kijamii, kwa matatizo ya ulimwengu kupitia maendeleo ya mfumo wa Taka Sifuri duniani kote. Tukio hili, lililofanyika Dar es Salaam, liliwaleta pamoja viongozi wa serikali, wataalam wa mfumo wa Taka Sifuri, taasisi za kifedha, na mashirika ya hisani ili kujadili kwa kina na kushirikiana mbinu bora zikiwemo utekelezaji wenye mafanikio katika sekta ya usimamizi na uthibiti wa taka.
Wazungumzaji katika mkutano huu ni Mheshimiwa Mahmoud Mohammed Mussa – Meya wa Zanzibar;John Morton kutoka Benki ya Dunia; Magdalena Donoso kutoka GAIA Amerika ya Kusini na Karibiani; Froilan Grate kutoka GAIA Asia Pacific; Ana Rocha Mkurugenzi wa Nipe Fagio; Jack McQuibban kutoka Zero Waste Europe; na Marcel Howard kutoka GAIA Marekani na Canada.
Wazungumzaji walijadili kuhusu Mfumo wa Taka Sifuri kwa kuangazia mtazamo wa haki za kimazingira na hali ya hewa. Walijadili mambo muhimu yanayowezesha mifumo ya Taka Sifuri wenye mafanikio, kujenga ushirikiano kwa ajili ya utekelezaji wa Mfumo wa Taka Sifuri, na mambo yanayofanana baina ya nchi za Kusini mwa Dunia zinazofanya kazi kwenye Mfumo wa Taka Sifuri. Mada ya haki za kimazingira katika sekta ya usimamizi wa taka pia ilikuwa sehemu muhimu ya majadiliano. Mojawapo ya mambo muhimu yaliyosisitizwa ilikuwa ni mitazamo ya ndani jinsi Mfumo wa Taka Sifuri ulivyopiga hatua nchini Tanzania na mifano thabiti hapa Dar Es Salaam na Zanzibar.
Nukuu:
- Jack McQuibban, Zero Waste Europe:
“Ndani ya Umoja wa Ulaya, mfumo wa pamoja wa kisheria unaunganisha manispaa kwa malengo na nia ya pamoja. Hii ina maana kwamba lengo linapowekwa, kama vile 65% ya urejeleaji ifikapo mwaka 2035 au marufuku ya vitu vya plastiki vinavyotumiwa mara moja, yanatumika katika nchi zote 27 na watu zaidi ya milioni 500. Mfumo huu unakuza uhusiano na msaada mkubwa katika ngazi ya ndani, kwa msingi wa mazungumzo yoyote kuwa mfumo wa pamoja ambao manispaa zote zinafanya kazi ndani yake.” – Jack McQuibban, Zero Waste Europe
- Magdalena Donoso, GAIA Amerika ya Kusini na Karibiani
“Watu wa asili wanatoa mtazamo wa ulimwengu, na matumizi ya kitamaduni yanayokaribiana na vipimo vya kimfumo na vya jumla ambavyo Mfumo wa Taka Sifuri inakuza. Amerika ya Kusini ndiyo eneo pekee duniani ambapo haki za kimazingira zimetambuliwa kikatiba, na kwa hivyo sisi kama binadamu tuna wajibu wa kubuni mifumo ya kuitunza.” – Magdalena Donoso, GAIA Amerika ya Kusini na Karibiani
- Froilan Grate, GAIA Asia Pacific
“Mabadilishano ya ujuzi kama yale tuliyokuwa nayo kwa Tanzania na Ufilipino ni njia nzuri ya kubadilishana maarifa mbalimbali tuliyo nayo katika harakati h – inatumika kama uthibitisho wa mambo mazuri yanayotokea lakini pia njia nzuri ya kujifunza pande mbili, kwani kila mfano una hadithi ya kipekee ya kushiriki.” – Froilan Grate, GAIA Asia Pacific
- Marcel Howard, GAIA Marekani / Canada
“Ukoloni na ubepari unaweza kupewa sifa kwa kuunda mgogoro wa taka na hali ya hewa ambao tunakabiliana nao kwa sasa. Na ndiyo maana haki za kimazingira ni muhimu sana kwa sababu inafanya kazi ya kubomoa miundo hii” – Marcel Howard, GAIA Marekani / Canada
Mkutano wa Kimataifa wa Miji ya Taka Sifuri ulianzia katika eneo la Asia Pacific, ambapo ulizinduliwa kwa mara ya kwanza mwaka 2009. Mwaka 2023, uongozi ulihamishiwa eneo la Afrika, kuashiria utayari wa kubadilishana maarifa ambayo ndiyo msingi wa mkutano huu. Wawakilishi kutoka Ufilipino, Chile, Marekani, Senegal, Ethiopia, Uganda, India, Ufaransa, Afrika Kusini, Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil, Indonesia, Ureno, Tanzania, na nchi nyingi zaidi wanahudhuria tukio hili lenye mwingiliano mkubwa. Lengo lake ni kuhamasisha msukumo wa pamoja na kuhimiza utekelezaji wa Mfumo wa Taka Sifuri. Tukio hili la siku tatu litajumuisha majadiliano, hotuba za wazungumzaji wakuu, uzinduzi wa mipango mbalimbali ya ndani, ziara ya eneo la jamii linalochakata na kupokea taka hapa Dar es Salaam, na kuonyeshwa kwa makala ya mfumo wa Taka Sifuri. Kwa habari zaidi kuhusu mkutano huu, unaweza kutembelea: https://www.no-burn.org/zero-waste-conferences/
Kuhusu GAIA: GAIA ni mtandao wa vikundi vya wananchi pamoja na miungano ya kitaifa na kikanda inayowakilisha zaidi ya mashirika 1000 kutoka nchi 92. Kwa kazi yetu, tunalenga kuchochea mabadiliko ya kimataifa kuelekea haki za Kimazingira kwa kuimarisha harakati za kijamii za wananchi zinazopiga hatua katika usimamizi wa taka na uthibiti uchafuzi wa mazingira. Tunatazamia dunia yenye haki na mfumo wa Taka Sifuri uliojengwa kwa kuheshimu mipaka ya kiikolojia na haki za jamii, ambapo watu wako salama kutokana na uchafuzi wenye sumu, na rasilimali zinahifadhiwa kwa njia endelevu, sio kuchomwa au kutupwa. www.no-burn.org
Kuhusu Nipe Fagio: Nipe Fagio ni mwanachama wa GAIA taasisi inayofanya kazi hapa Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Nipe Fagio ndiye mwenyeji mwenza na muundaaji wa Mkutano wa Kimataifa wa Miji ya Taka Sifuri. Taasis hili limekuwa mstari wa mbele ikijenga mifumo ya Taka Sifuri inayoongozwa na ushirika wa wakusanya Taka nchini Tanzania tangu 2019. Katika utekelezaji huu Nipe Fagio imeaona uwezo mkubwa katika kuunda na kuhalalisha ushirika wa wakusanyaji wa taka katika kupunguza taka na hewa ya kaboni mijini. Kwa mfano, mchango wa Ushirika wa Wakusanya Taka Bonyokwa katika utenganishaji na ukusanyaji wa taka ulisaidia kugeuza zaidi ya 80% ya taka zinazozalishwa katika kata ya Bonyokwa, katika wilaya ya Ilala jijini Dar es Salaam kupitia utengenezaji wa mbolea, matumizi mapya, na urejeleaji. https://nipefagio.co.tz/
Mawasiliano Nipe Fagio | Olarip Tomito | olary@nipefagio.co.tz
