BAGUIO CITY – Women’s day guest of honor and speaker Dr. Moeko Saito-Jensen highlighted the public health, environment and economic benefits of the circular economy (CE), and the role of women in CE in her message at the Baguio Convention Center, last Saturday, March 8.
Jensen pointed out that for public health and environment benefits, CE could significantly reduce air and water pollution, greenhouse gas emission, waste generation, and the excessive use of natural resources and energy. This is due to circulated products and materials, reuse and recycling of resources thus less carbon emission, fewer landfills, reduced ocean plastics, less consumption of natural resources and reduced reliance on virgin materials.
For the economic benefits, transition to CE would create new jobs in recycling, repair, remanufacturing and the development of other environmental-conscious or new circular business models thus stimulating economic growth.Fo
According to Jensen, up to 7 to 8 million new jobs could be generated due to redirection towards a green economy. Reduced reliance on specific reserves also leads to less waste towards cost saving for businesses.
In a related development, the European Union plans to infuse P31.6M for the Philippines to focus on circular economy, waste, renewable energy and research. The grant would boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital energy and transport sectors to strengthen health education and research systems.
Jensen also mentioned that as to an EU-PH partnership for green economy, CE advocates the use of raw materials, design, production, remanufacturing, distribution, consumption, use, reuse, repair, collection, recycling, and residual waste; while linear economy is much simpler; raw materials, design, production, distribution, consumption, collection and disposal; but with less material life and use.
In the ten strategies of CE; some (refuse, rethink, reduce, reuse, repair, refurbish) are devoted for smarter product use, manufacture and extended lifespan of products while the rest (remanufacture, repurpose, recycle, recover) are for recycling or the useful application of materials.
In Baguio, Jensen looked at the program “Pansa-nopen Tayo,” with the Taro/Gabi plant as emblem, to re-appreciate natural human connection, re-embrace CE and preserve its cultural value. The gabi is a symbol of sustainability, resource efficiency and circularity due to the plant’s every part useability.
In the Philippines and in Asian countries, women mostly carry the brunt of inclusive CE implementation and challenges including basics and training in waste management, basics of business including records keeping and financial management, communication skills and international market linkages for recycling businesses. Women need to be resilient as they are subject to social stigmas, discrimination, high occupational risks, injuries, infectious diseases and accidents.
Jensen is the project manager of the EU-funded Green Economy in the Philippines and an expert in CE and environmental governance. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Copenhagen and has worked in several senior positions in the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Her field work has brought her to Mexico, Fiji, Indonesia, Nepal, Cambodia and the Philippines where she explores how women play a pivotal role in the transition to CE, for environmental health and women empowerment. Jensen promotes environmental sustainability with conforming studies in ecological basics.
Dr. Saito-Jensen was introduced during the program by 2014 OWL awardee, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Officer Mary Ann Tresmanio. – jgfianza
