Moroccan city among 20 selected for UN zero-waste initiative
The Moroccan city Chefchaouen was named among 20 cities in a United Nations zero-waste initiative, Moroccan government-friendly Yabiladi reported on 31 March.
The selection was announced by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and made by a UN advisory board tasked with identifying urban leaders working to reduce waste and improve waste management systems.
According to UNEP, the initiative brings together cities from different regions to address growing levels of waste. It said the selected cities face a range of challenges, including pressures from urbanisation and limited infrastructure. The initiative aims to promote practical approaches to reducing waste generation and improving resource use in urban areas.
UN-Habitat, the United Nations agency for human settlements and urban development, said the advisory board forms part of wider United Nations efforts to tackle rising global waste levels and supports cities in reducing waste. Cities were selected based on their efforts to reduce waste and develop solutions suited to local conditions.
The board includes international experts in waste management and sustainability and highlights cities taking steps to reduce waste and improve urban systems.
The initiative forms part of broader UN efforts to address global waste issues, as international organisations warn that waste generation is expected to increase without changes in policy and consumption.
Chefchaouen has previously received support for waste management through international projects, including a programme backed by the European Investment Bank to strengthen waste collection and treatment systems in the city, according to EU Med Bridge, a regional platform linking EU-funded initiatives in the Mediterranean.
International programmes have also supported broader urban environmental initiatives in Chefchaouen, including efforts linked to waste reduction and improvements to local urban services, according to ICLEI, a global network of local governments. GERES, a France-based non-governmental organisation, has also reported on projects in the city focused on waste management and urban development.
Yabiladi, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UN-Habitat, EU Med Bridge, ICLEI, GERES, Maghrebi.org
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