Environmentalists push for waste-to-wealth innovations on World Environment Day

Environmental stakeholders in Ghana are urging a shift. They want to turn waste into economic opportunities. Their focus is on innovation, research, and circular economy solutions for climate action.

This call was made during the 2025 World Environment Day celebration. The theme was “From Waste to Wealth: Driving Climate Action through Innovation, Research and Circular Solutions.”

The event was organized by the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies at the University of Ghana. They partnered with the Climate Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). Environmental experts, students, and policymakers attended to discuss youth-led entrepreneurship using waste.

Valerie Nutakor, Project Lead for CDKN Ghana, spoke about supporting young innovators. She mentioned that pilot projects are already in progress. These projects provide youth with technical and financial resources to build sustainable businesses.

Nutakor said, “We support green entrepreneurs—young people we've trained over time. They learn the technical aspects of waste innovation. With our backing, they’re turning ideas into viable sustainability initiatives.”

The government also supports youth-led waste innovations in urban centers like Accra. Cedric Dzelu, Technical Lead at the Ministry of Climate Change and Sustainability, stressed systemic support for scaling young innovators.

Dzelu stated, “We’re excited to see green entrepreneurship gaining traction. Young people need tools and support to make waste-to-wealth a reality. Our ministry is open to youth-focused climate adaptations for environmental sustainability.”

At the academic level, Professor Chris Gordon leads initiatives at the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies. He discussed efforts to connect climate research with entrepreneurship.

Gordon said, “We’re introducing catalyst and seed grants for student-led startups. These grants come with mentorship and training to help them create real-world impact.”

Ghana’s environmental experts agree: waste has untapped potential. With innovation, collaboration, and policy support, Ghana can lead toward a circular economy that benefits everyone.