INDUSTRIALIZATION IN THE ERA OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADDING THE “CIRCULARITY VARIABLE” TO THE EQUATION?

Abstract

Industrial development is crucial for countries to achieve a
steady and equitable economic growth whereas industrialization
is closely related to social and economic growth, job creation,
and improved livelihood of people. Despite its benefits,
industrialization can negatively impact human health and
ecosystems through contributing to global warming and climate
change. While industrial activities remain a significant
contributor to environmental pollution, deployment of
innovative solutions such as circular economy business models,
additive manufacturing, and green technologies can reduce
industrial carbon footprints. Hence, this study intended to
uncover questions about the degree to which the current
industrialization in the Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) region has
considered social, economic and environmental dimensions.
Specifically, the study intended to: 1) establish the degree of
compliance to industrial sustainability, and 2) map drivers,
opportunities and challenges to industrialization in SSA. A
systematic review, guided by standards of Preferred Reporting
Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, was employed with consultation of different databases such as Emerald,
Nature, and Science Direct. The findings revealed different
factors that motivate industrialization in SSA countries,
including country’s intention to achieve ambitious social,
economic growth, and climate change targets, policies that
support investments, and the presence of robust infrastructure.
Also, industrialization in SSA poses several opportunities,
including leveraging emerging technologies in the agriculture
value chain, harnessing circular economy principles for efficient
resource use, enactment of policies for low-carbon subsidies,
job creation, and reduced unemployment. Additionally,
industrialization is challenged by lack of focused
industrialization strategy, coordination of available resources,
infrastructures, and absence of environmental governance
coordination mechanisms between different stakeholders. The
findings therefore, provides vital contribution to government
policy making institutions about degree of compliance to
industrial sustainability, and key drivers, opportunities and
challenges to industrialization for informed decisions. This
study recommends that SSA countries should accelerate the
adoption of innovative business solutions including circular
economy models to enhance resource efficiency, minimise
carbon footprints and unlock opportunities across-sectors,
particularly within the agricultural value chain.