During our Panamanian stopover, we have the pleasure of working with the teams from Suez Central America for the “RESIDUOS RECICLADOS, OCEANOS LIMPIOS*” operation. On this occasion, we’ve had the opportunity to meet with Mrs Ana Giros, CEO of the Business Unit Europe – Latin America. Joint interview with Marco Simeoni, President of the Race For Water Foundation and Ana Giros.
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What is your view of the current world and the major problems human populations are facing?
Ana Giros: There are three fairly distinct problem areas. The first issue is exponential population growth. Next, populations are grouping together around towns and cities, which is a big challenge for the planet. Finally, climate change is having an impact on the resilience and everyday lives of citizens.
Marco Simeoni: In addition, there is a growing social divide between emerging countries and the so-called developed countries. I’ve been lucky enough to do a lot of travelling and I realise that the gap is widening, which worries me enormously.
Globalisation has a considerable impact on the environment. We would need to bring activities back to a local level so as populations can find jobs and hence be in a position to redress the balance.
In your view, how can we build a future that is more respectful of our planet?
Ana Giros: On a very macro level, there is only one way: to create a circular economy. We’d banked on a planet with infinite resources, but we realise that concept is now over. We need to adapt to the fact that, once treated, the waste from one process becomes the raw material for another process.
Marco Simeoni: Exactly. To date, in terms of technologies, we’re coming up with some highly polished solutions that mean we can envisage viable and sustainable energy transition. However, we need to reinvent our economic model. It is based solely on considerations about direct profitability. It is becoming vital to take into account the social and environmental impact, which are all too often overlooked.
What do the oceans represent in your mind?
Ana Giros: The oceans represent life; life comes from the oceans and we need to preserve them in order to continue having this life on the planet. One important thing to understand is that the oceans nourish half the planet. Another crucial point is that they balance out climates, because they contain half the C02 on the planet. They make a massive contribution to climatic balance in different areas.
Marco Simeoni: The ocean is life and it’s also the future of our planet. For me, the oceans are synonymous with freedom, travel and inspiration. They enable us to breathe and nourish us. However, today, we treat them like a massive dustbin. Since they belong to no one and everyone, it’s a complex matter and few of us feel concerned by it.
Suez and Race For Water together in Panama, an obvious pairing?
Ana Giros: It’s obvious on a local level, because SUEZ has a very strong presence in Panama, a country which is our main hub for the whole of Central America and the Caribbean. We’ve been here for many years and we continue to work with the Panamanian population and the public authorities to develop the water infrastructure and then work on the performance aspect of the municipal water cycle services. We’re beginning to look at opportunities to manage waste as we can see that the country is rallying together around this matter, with some very practical ideas about waste treatment on an industrial scale, including the BASURA CERO programme.
The second point is that we’re very committed to the protection of the oceans on a global scale. This local partnership with Race For Water embodies more global aspects like our agreements with UNESCO and our collaboration with various COPs from the COP 21 and the SUEZ group’s road map for the oceans.
Marco Simeoni: What more can I say! This collaboration is self-evident really because we’re concerned by the same synergies. Firstly, SUEZ manages water treatment and the Foundation is keen to preserve water in the broad sense of the term. After that, SUEZ manages the treatment of waste and our aim is that the latter cannot reach the waterways. To that effect, the work carried out by SUEZ upstream is therefore essential.
During this Panamanian stopover, what local challenges have been mentioned in terms of waste management and the preservation of marine resources?
Ana Giros: I believe that on a local level, there is a very strong focus on the decontamination of the waters to protect Panama Bay, which is still very polluted today. There is a particular focus on the waste in the water and the treatment of the waste water.
With regards to the collection aspect of solid waste, there are some initiatives beginning to take shape. We must now take things to the next level and decide what to do with this waste other than taking it to the municipal landfill. We must also consider how to get around the issue of recovering this waste and how to deal with it upstream because such a move enriches the country, thus creating value within it. That’s the final hurdle for Panama!
Marco Simeoni: On a personal level, my main focus is going to be on plastics because that’s what Race For Water is all about.
In this regard, I understand that the percentage of plastic in the waste is higher than the global average.
I recall that of all the waste generated, there is 19% plastic, whilst on a global scale we’re already looking at 10%! As such, we have nearly double the plastic waste in Panama! I don’t know what the reasons are for this but it’s worrying.
I had the opportunity to go to Portobelo, 1hr15 by car from Panama City. Throughout the journey, I could see waste to my left and right. I said to myself that there’s still a lot of work to be done within the context of education, raising awareness and the collection and treatment of waste, especially of a plastic nature.
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*For the first time in Central America, an event dedicated to the protection of the oceans and waste management took place from 22 to 25 February 2018 in the city of Panama (Fuerte Amador, Isla Flamenco): “RESIDUOS RECICLADOS, OCÉANOS LIMPIOS”. The two bodies behind this initiative, the SUEZ Group and its guest Race For Water Foundation organised various local activities in a bid to inform the general public about the need to optimise waste management and promote the recycling of waste.