{"id":7262,"date":"2021-10-25T14:48:51","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T14:48:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/recirculate\/?p=7262"},"modified":"2021-10-26T12:01:43","modified_gmt":"2021-10-26T12:01:43","slug":"cop26-webinar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/recirculate\/2021\/10\/cop26-webinar\/","title":{"rendered":"COP26: Circular Solutions webinar"},"content":{"rendered":"

In October 2021, the focus of our PARTICIPATE<\/a> engagement was COP26<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and more specifically circular solutions for Africa<\/b><\/a>. On 21st October our COP26: Circular Solutions webinar posed the question “How can eco-innovation deliver sustainable development in Africa?<\/span><\/em>” exploring African perspectives on the potential for eco-innovation.<\/span> Moderated by Dr Akan Odon and the RECIRCULATE team, the webinar featured co-leaders of our workpackages “Entrepreneurship & Innovation<\/a>“, “Water for Health & Sanitation<\/a>“, “Water for Food Production<\/a>” and “Water for Energy Production<\/a>” from Ghana, Nigeria and the UK.<\/p>\n

Dr Francis Agyenim<\/a> (RECIRCULATE “Health & Sanitation” workpackage co-lead and Director, CSIR – Institute of Industrial Research (IIR))<\/a> presented the journey of CSIR-IIR to sustainable development. He started his presentation with a climate risk assessment of Ghana and sectors affected by the climate change. He then briefly introduced the role of CSIR-IIR and the impact of the RECIRCULATE & ACTUATE projects on the country. Francis concluded his speech with an overview of key objectives and goals and future plans looking beyond the projects.<\/p>\n

Dr Patricia Oteng-Darko<\/span><\/a> (Research Scientist, CSIR – Crops Research Institute (CRI)<\/a>) started with a brief overview of the linear food system in Ghana highlighting the need for eco-innovation in transitioning to circularity. She then presented some of the advanced technologies that CSIR-CRI implemented over the years with regards to enhancing food production and water conservation. Patricia concluded her presentation with an emphasis on the importance of Africa to adopt eco-innovative technologies to drive sustainability and meet current environmental, health, economic and social needs.<\/p>\n

Dr Cynthia Forson<\/a> (RECIRCULATE “Entrepreneurship & Innovation” workpackage co-lead and Deputy Provost at Lancaster University Ghana<\/a>) presented how social sciences research in Africa can be engaged in eco-innovation. She started with an overview of the current eco-innovation strategies at Lancaster University Ghana highlighting the establishment of a new campus (October 2021) which will use solar energy and bio-digester and aims to plant 5 million trees across Ghana. She then introduced the importance of using a gender lens in understanding and reinforcing eco-innovation as a driver of sustainable development in Africa. Cynthia concluded her speech by linking the role of the RECIRCULATE project in creating women`s eco-innovation-related knowledge networks and the role of market queens in waste management in markets in Accra, Ghana.<\/p>\n