On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, President Kais Saied welcomed Habib Abid, the Minister of Environment, at the Carthage Palace. During their meeting, the President underscored the urgent necessity to address the environmental degradation impacting various regions of the country, especially due to the haphazard disposal of waste, rubble, and garden debris.
A Collective Awareness of the Environment
Kais Saied emphasised the importance of a holistic and collaborative approach to fighting environmental deterioration. “It’s not just about legislation, but about reconciling citizens with their public spaces,” he stated, recalling the spontaneous cleanup efforts undertaken by Tunisians following the 2010 Revolution and the 2019 presidential elections.
These initiatives reflected a collective sense of ownership of public spaces. Nevertheless, according to the President, such efforts were hindered by “retrograde forces” aiming to disrupt this reconciliation between citizens and their environment.
Underperforming Institutional Framework
The President also criticized the inefficiency of establishments responsible for environmental management. Despite substantial budgets amounting to millions of dinars, tangible results remain elusive.
“It’s not the number of organizations that matters, but their effectiveness. Otherwise, it’s simply a waste of public funds,” he remarked.
The critical environmental conditions in regions like Sfax, Gabès, and Gafsa were discussed during the meeting. The President underscored the need for clear strategies to safeguard not only the environment but also the health of local populations.
Towards Sustainable Waste Management
Among the proposed solutions, the President stressed the potential of waste-to-energy initiatives as a dual solution to reduce waste and curb pollution. This approach was described as “an effective response to both waste reduction and environmental preservation.