“My takeaway message from the ENVIRO conference, which we were able to attend as part of this study tour, was that the circular economy is a holistic and inclusive approach that involves different aspects from policy to designs, prevention, waste minimisation, and resource recovery.

Upon my return to the Solomon Islands, a circular economy initiative that I would like to champion is moving through the steps of introducing a sustainable financing system for waste management in the Solomon Islands.

I think it’s important that the public sector, private sector industries, and communities coordinate and work together on Circular Economy initiatives, so they are effective. Some ways these can be done is through consultations and discussions to agree on certain actions on circular economy initiatives, promoting waste minimisation through refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle which is the basis for action-based solutions, through data and information sharing that would provide the basis for good policy and legislative framework for sustainable financing of waste management and including all stakeholders in the process stages.

It was great learning that the circular economy includes circularity in the built environment, infrastructure design, clothing, and fashion economy. These are advanced pathways that we in the Pacific Islands may not think of now but may need to consider in our future circular economy strategies”

Debra Kereseka
Chief Executive Officer
Environment and Conservation Division
Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology