Hiroshima University x UN-Habitat Webinar Series: Unravelling social and peace aspects in urban waste management

April 27, 2026 (Monday, 19:00 – 20:30 JST)
ONLINE (zoom)

About the Hiroshima University x UN-Habitat Webinar Series: Unravelling social and peace aspects in urban waste management

Access to waste management is fundamentally linked to safeguarding human health and the environment. The increased pressure from population growth and rapid urbanisation, along with changing waste production and composition, makes urban waste management one of the most complex responsibilities for national and local authorities. On the other hand, poor urban waste management systems can cause conflicts and environmental hazards, leading to social tensions and emphasising the link between waste management and peace. 

Co-organised by the Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS) at Hiroshima University, Japan, and the Urban Basic Service Section (UBSS) of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), this webinar series aims to explore the connections between peace and urban waste management from both academic and practical perspectives.

This initiative recognises the gap in current practice and academic discourse in linking peace and urban waste management. Specifically, it identifies a gap in emphasising and framing the vital role of waste management processes in fostering social cohesion, inclusivity, income generation, and the overall stability of urban communities.

About the first webinar

The theme of the first webinar is Waste management for social cohesion and livelihoods – an exploration of how public perception shapes participation and of informal workers’ perspectives and motivations beyond livelihoods.

It will focus on aspects of public perception and satisfaction, which inform participation on the one hand and, on the other, the intrinsic perspectives that drive informal workers beyond livelihoods, all of which are influencing factors in advancing waste management in cities. It will also introduce a critical exploration of social factors that warrant meaningful consideration in the development and implementation of urban waste management projects.

About the Speakers

Professor Saleem H Ali
Saleem H. Ali is Chair of the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences and the Blue & Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment at the University of Delaware (United States of America). He also serves as Lead for Critical Metals and Inclusive Energy Transitions at the United Nations University and is a member of the United Nations International Resource Panel. Before embarking on an academic career, Saleem Ali worked as an environmental health and safety professional at General Electric Corporation. He received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Tufts University and his master’s and PhD degrees in environmental policy and planning from Yale University and MIT, respectively. His honours include being a National Geographic Explorer, with field experience in more than 160 countries and on all continents; being selected as a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum; and serving on the boards of notable non-profit charitable organisations, including RESOLVE, Adventure Scientists, and Mediators Beyond Borders International. He is also Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland (Australia); Senior Fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Sustainable Investment; and Affiliate of the Gund Institute for the Environment in Vermont.

Chinmayi Naik
Chinmayi Naik serves as the Executive Director of Hasiru Dala, leading the organisation with a vision for a just transition for waste pickers through sustainable and inclusive solid waste management. Her work also focuses on research and policy related to the informal and unorganised economy, the future of work, labour laws, digitalisation, and business and human rights. Previously, she spent three years as an architect, planner, and researcher, collaborating with policy advisers and urban planners to identify community needs and develop strategies that mobilise, empower, and strengthen labourers and migrant communities in urban areas, with an emphasis on social security, decent work, and human rights. 

Nzalalemba Serge Kubanza
Nzalalemba Serge Kubanza received a PhD in Geography and Environmental Studies and a master’s degree in development planning, both from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. He holds a BA-Honours in Sociology and Anthropology and a BA in Anthropology and Sociology, both from the University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. He is currently a senior lecturer and the School Postgraduate coordinator at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He has published extensively in solid waste management, social justice, environmental justice, and sustainability. He has held various positions with non-profit organisations in South Africa and with academic institutions, serving as a lecturer and researcher. He is a sociologist, anthropologist, development planner, human geographer, and systems analyst by training, specialising in human and urban geography and environmental sustainability. He undertook research training at the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis in Austria and an internship at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.