{
  "id": 288631,
  "title": "Building green cities: Experts call for better planning, waste recovery and sustainable financing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/building-green-cities-experts-call-for-better-planning-waste-recovery",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-08T01:48:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/building-green-cities-experts-call-for-better-planning-waste-recovery-and-sustainable-financing/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Creating green cities goes beyond planting trees; it demands a fundamental shift in how urban areas produce energy, manage waste, finance infrastructure, accommodate transportation, and safeguard natural resources. This consensus emerged during a high-level discussion on green urban development, where policymakers, sustainability experts, and development partners emphasized the need for practical projects that can attract long-term investment.\n\nWhile Ghana has established policies on climate action, energy transition, and urban development, implementation has lagged due to insufficient planning, disjointed coordination among institutions, and limited financing. Dr. Gloria Boamah Kusi, Senior Sustainability Officer at Jospong Green Transitions Office, highlighted that effective waste segregation at the source is crucial for a successful circular economy. She stressed that waste should be viewed as a valuable resource that can generate new products, renewable energy, and employment when properly managed. Separating waste at its origin significantly enhances material recovery, making recycling and compost production more efficient.\n\nMoreover, truly green cities must incorporate renewable energy, sustainable transport systems, climate-responsive infrastructure, and sufficient green spaces to cut carbon emissions and enhance urban resilience. Project Manager Doris Edem Agbevivi from the French Development Agency explained that waste management, transport, and energy sectors must be planned together for cities to achieve environmental sustainability. She pointed out that despite progress in waste management, much of the collected waste still ends up in disposal sites rather than being recovered for economic value. Agbevivi questioned the sustainability of transitioning to electric vehicles if the necessary infrastructure—such as charging systems and battery recycling—is not green. She emphasized that every component of the green transition must be considered collectively.\n\nFinancing sustainable urban development is another significant hurdle. Doris Edem Agbevivi noted that Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) provide capital, but only when governments present credible, well-developed investment plans. She stressed that these plans should lead to implementable projects rather than remaining as feasibility studies. Development partners consistently seek measurable milestones, clear implementation strategies, and bankable projects before committing financial support.\n\nRepresenting the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ing. Godfred Fiifi Boadi Esq. acknowledged that countries worldwide are pursuing green city agendas, but implementation varies due to local conditions. In Ghana, the Energy Transition Framework recognizes waste management, transport, and energy as pivotal elements of national climate action. However, Boadi argued that investment priorities need to shift, emphasizing that smaller investments in waste management can yield greater environmental and economic returns than larger investments in other sectors. He advocated for Effective Producer Responsibility (EPR), whereby manufacturers bear the costs of collecting, recycling, and safely disposing of products after consumer use. This approach would shift the financial burden away from taxpayers and local assemblies, ensuring manufacturers take greater responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products.",
  "summary": "The consensus among policymakers, sustainability experts, and development partners at a high-level dialogue on green urban development highlighted the need for a more practical approach to green city planning in Ghana. While several policies on climate action, energy transition, and urban development have been developed, implementation has been slow due to inadequate planning, fragmented institutional coordination, and limited financing. Dr. Gloria Boamah Kusi, Senior Sustainability Officer at the Jospong Green Transitions Office, emphasized that waste segregation and circular economy principles are crucial to transforming cities into green ones. She stressed that waste should be viewed as a valuable resource rather than mere refuse, and urged for efficient waste segregation at the source to enable material recovery, recycling, and compost production. Additionally, Doris Edem Agbevivi, Project Manager for Energy Transition and Green Infrastructure at the French Development Agency (AFD) for Ghana and Liberia, stressed the importance of integrated planning, where waste management, transport, and energy sectors must be planned together to achieve environmental sustainability.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Starr FM",
        "title": "Building Green Cities: Experts Call for Better Planning, Waste Recovery and Sustainable Financing",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/building-green-cities-experts-call-for-better-planning-waste-recovery",
        "published": "2026-08-07T14:35:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}