Circular Economy in Tunisia

Abstract

Tunisia has taken up many environmental challenges by setting up major waste management projects. Tunisia is among the first countries in Africa to create several controlled landfills and wastewater treatment plants since early 90s (MARH 2005). Despite recalcitrant environmental problems, Tunisia continues to position itself among the 50 countries benefiting from an evolving environmental policy and launches several green entrepreneurship projects and programs.

Indeed, the Tunisian government started its initiative to set up its national strategy by the creation of the National Agency for Waste Management “ANGed” which is a non-administrative public establishment (decree n ° 2005–2317, Aug 22, 2005). The specific objectives of ANGed are: (1) Mastering the management of different types of waste, (2) Strengthening efforts to create job positions relating to waste management, (3) Encouraging material and energy recovery of waste, (4) Encouraging the participation of the private sector in the field of waste management, (5) Improving communication, consultation, awareness, and mastery of data in the field of waste management, and (6) Improving the institutional, legal, and financial management framework for waste.

In support of this strategy, Tunisian researchers play a preponderant role in the implementation of collaborative projects facilitating the implementation of concrete actions in relation to the circular economy. As a main example, we can cite the SwitchMed initiative which affects the Tunisian economic sectors (Textile industry, environmental protection against plastic waste, tourism, and agriculture) and contributes to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8, 9, 12 and 17). This program supports policy makers, eco-innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, industries, start-ups and entrepreneurs from the southern Mediterranean countries, who have identified job creation and the protection of natural resources as priority issues which also contribute to their economic stability.

Tunisia presents a particular situation of environmental vulnerability because of its limited natural resources (in particular water), its particularly constraining climate by its aridity and its strong variability, and the rapid desertification of its territory. This is why Tunisia has tried to get involved very early in a pre-emptive policy of protecting its natural resources and its environment without compromising its development objectives. In fact, Tunisia expressed her support for international processes on climate change and ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992 (Morocco and Algeria) and joined the Kyoto Protocol on January 22, 2003. Tunisia submitted two national communications to the UNFCCC, the first in 2001 and the second in 2011. Tunisia also established a Designated National Authority in 2005. The country has already developed a number of national adaptation strategies as well as sectoral strategies, such as the Adaptation Strategy for Agriculture and Ecosystems to Climate Change in 2007, the Strategy for Adaptation of Coastal Areas to Climate Change in 2008, and the Strategy for Adaptation of the Public Health Sector to Climate Change in 2010. Tunisia is currently finalizing a National Strategy on Climate Change, building on and updating previous work.