Digital Innovations for Transitioning to a Circular plastic Economy - (DITCh Plastic)

这项提议汇集了一个多部门合作网络，旨在利用数字创新(DIS)管理和加速非洲向循环塑料经济(CPE)的过渡。塑料污染是21世纪最大的挑战之一。尽管塑料具有一系列独特的特性和广泛的益处，是一种不可或缺的材料，但它们带来了严重的环境和健康问题，这些问题正变得越来越难以解决。糟糕的基础设施和不完善的废物管理系统加剧了这一问题，并加剧了低收入和中等收入国家塑料废物对环境的影响。循环经济意识的提高是可持续讨论的关键部分，据悉在全球向更可持续的地球转变方面发挥了重要作用。其关键原则，即再利用、再循环、重新设计、再制造、减少和回收，将对管理生态系统中的大量废物产生重大影响。因此，创造了向循环塑料经济的转变。这与移动应用、遥感和人工智能等数字创新相结合，提供了一种改变游戏规则的方法，可以应对非洲的塑料垃圾挑战。该项目旨在描述、集群、协同和优化数字创新，以支持非洲向循环塑料经济的过渡。它有以下具体目标：1.确定和评估可支持向循环塑料经济过渡的数字解决方案和创新。2.说明可影响向循环塑料经济过渡的技术、政治、性别、社会经济和文化因素。确定促进数字工具和创新的政策、研究问题和能力建设机会。四.促进循环塑料经济的数字工具和创新。将通过以下一揽子工作实现目标：WP1：评估整个非洲塑料废物管理的数字创新的最新水平，并为这些创新平台建立网络。WP2：说明在非洲范围内促进/阻碍向循环塑料经济过渡的技术、性别、政治、社会经济和文化因素。WP3：调查重新思考/优化循环塑料经济的数字工具的机会(这将利用WP1和WP2的结果)。WP4：创建一个将利益攸关方、数字工具和创新汇聚在一起的数字聚合平台WP5：传播和接触主要利益攸关方和更广泛的公众，讨论数字工具可以对向循环塑料经济过渡作出什么/如何作出积极贡献。该项目是创建多部门协作网络的第一步，旨在利用数字创新管理和加速向非洲国家方案经济过渡。因此，主要成果将是一个强大的多部门、跨学科和国际团队，他们将查明差距、机会、政策建议和研究问题，以支持过渡。具体产出包括：-项目网站和连接国家方案各利益攸关方的数字聚合平台--为第二阶段提出强有力的及时和相关的研究问题--两个国际讲习班，每次约30人参加(2020年4月和8月)--记录整个非洲大陆现有的综合信息系统，详细说明其长处和弱点--记录影响国家方案方案综合信息系统的技术、政治、社会经济、性别和文化因素--在查塔姆之家和CC-Hub开展宣传活动--在基加利、拉各斯和温得和克与不同利益攸关方开展一系列联网活动--关于综合方案方案的综合信息系统问题的小型会议，会议程序和期刊特刊

This proposal brings together a multisectoral collaborative network, aimed at utilising digital innovations (DIs) to manage and accelerate the transition to a circular plastic economy (CPE) in Africa. Plastic pollution is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. While plastics are an indispensable material due to an array of unique properties and wide-ranging benefits, they pose significant environmental and health problems which are becoming increasingly intractable. Poor infrastructure and inadequate waste management systems exacerbate this problem and the environmental impact of plastic waste in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).The rise in awareness of the circular economy is a crucial part of the sustainability discourse and has been tipped to play a significant role in the global shift to a more sustainable planet. Its key principles; reuse, recycle, redesign, remanufacture, reduce and recover, will make a significant impact in managing the high volumes of waste in the ecosystem. Therefore, creating a shift towards a circular plastic economy. This coupled with digital innovations, such as mobile applications, remote sensing and artificial intelligence; provide a game-changing approach, which could address the plastic waste challenge in Africa. The project aims to characterise, cluster, synergise and optimise digital innovations that would support a transition to a circular plastic economy in Africa. It has the following specific objectives:I. Identify and assess digital solutions and innovations that can support the transition to a circular plastic economy.II. Characterise technical, political, gender, socio-economic and cultural factors that can influence the transition to a circular plastic economy. III. Identify policy, research questions and capacity building opportunities for promoting digital tools and innovations.IV. Promote digital tools and innovations for a circular plastic economy.The objectives will be achieved through the following work packages:WP1: Assessing state of the art of digital innovations for plastic waste management across Africa and forming a network for these innovative platforms. WP2: Characterising Technical, Gender, Political, Socio-Economic and Cultural Factors that promote /hinder a transition to a circular plastic economy in the context of Africa. WP3: Investigating opportunities for rethinking/optimising digital tools for a circular plastic economy (This will utilise results from WP1 and WP2). WP4: Creating a Digital Aggregator Platform that brings together stakeholders, digital tools and innovations for a Circular Plastic Economy WP5: Disseminating and engaging with key stakeholders and the wider public, on what/how digital tools can positively contribute to the transition to a circular plastic economy.This project represents the first step in creating a multisectoral collaborative network, aimed at utilising digital innovations to manage and accelerate the transition to a CPE in Africa. Therefore, the primary outcome will be a strong multisectoral, interdisciplinary and international team who will identify gaps, opportunities, policy recommendations and research questions to support the transition. Specific outputs include:- Project website with a digital aggregator platform that links various stakeholders of the CPE- Robust timely and relevant research questions for stage 2- Two international workshops, of about 30 participants each (Apr & Aug 2020)- Documentation of existing DIs across the continent, detailing strengths and weaknesses- Documentation of; technical, political, socio-economic, gender and cultural factors that affect DIs for a CPE- Dissemination activities at Chatham House and CC-Hub- A series of networking activities, with various stakeholders, in Kigali, Lagos and Windhoek- A mini conference on DIs for the CPE with conference proceeding and journal special issue