By Rashidat Oladele
Greenpeace Africa, a leading environmental organization on the continent, is calling on African ministers of the environment not to compromise during negotiations for a crucial treaty focused on environmental preservation.
This plea comes ahead of the 19th session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), to be held in Addis Ababa next month, under the theme: “Seizing opportunities and enhancing collaboration to address environmental challenges in Africa.”
Greenpeace Africa is compelling African member states to unite in these negotiations and to champion a treaty firmly rooted in principles of justice, human rights, reduced inequality, and enhanced human health.
Central to their advocacy is the development of a legally binding global plastic treaty, which will be discussed at the conference.
Hellen Dena, Greenpeace Africa’s Communication and Story Manager, emphasized the urgency of this treaty in the fight against plastic pollution.
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She pointed out that plastic pollution impacts human rights at every stage of its lifecycle, from production to disposal. It exacerbates social injustice, harms ecosystems essential to African livelihoods, and compounds the inequalities arising from the climate crisis.
Dena stressed, “We urge the African Group of Negotiators to call for a strong treaty that prioritises a just transition to sustainable livelihoods for workers and other affected communities across the plastics value chain. The treaty must support reuse and refill business models, considering the interests of waste pickers and Indigenous Peoples while utilizing traditional knowledge.”
Plastic production is deeply entwined with climate change, as over 99 percent of plastics are derived from fossil fuels, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
By curbing plastic production and eliminating single-use plastics, African countries align themselves with the goal of limiting global warming to below 1.5 degrees.
However, there are concerns that proponents of single-use plastics are pushing for increased production and exportation into Africa, which could undermine the progress made in combatting plastic pollution on the continent.
Greenpeace Africa stresses that collaboration among African Member States is essential to address these challenges and counteract the illegal and neo-colonialist practices associated with plastic waste from the Global North.
Dena concluded, “With 34 governments having passed laws banning single-use plastics and implemented or intending to implement such laws, Africa has already demonstrated significant leadership in addressing plastic pollution. We expect AMCEN to encourage all Member States to adopt a progressive plan that supports ambitious goals for a robust global plastic treaty, effectively resolving the plastic pollution crisis and tackling the issue of plastic waste dumping in Africa.”
