Kenya and African Civil Societies Call for Unified Stance Ahead of Global Plastic Pollution Talks
As the COP29 talks wrap up this week in Baku, attention shifts to Busan, Korea, where another critical round of discussions is set to commence.
The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) aims to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. This session will take place from November 25th to December 1st, 2024.
Kenyan civil society organizations, led by the Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD) and the Heinrich Böll Foundation Nairobi, are calling on African leaders to unite and demand decisive action to reduce plastic production and eliminate hazardous chemicals throughout the lifecycle of plastics.
Speaking during a media breakfast in Nairobi on Wednesday, CEJAD Executive Director Griffins Ochieng emphasized the need for a unified African stance on plastic pollution.
“African countries, as net importers, bear the brunt of plastic pollution,” Ochieng stated.
“Previous negotiations have seen petrochemical companies dominate the discussions, sidelining the voices of high-ambition countries. It’s time for African leaders to stand united and demand a treaty that prioritizes eliminating hazardous chemicals, ensures transparency, and includes mechanisms for labeling, tracking, monitoring, and data-sharing.”
Dr. Ayub Macharia, who is in charge of enforcement at the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), noted that Kenya will be pushing for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to the global stage. Kenya will meet other African countries on November 23 and 24, 2024, to influence Africa’s position in the upcoming negotiations.
“Kenya has a gazetted EPR, where the manufacturer is responsible for the plastic that goes into the environment. We want to push the same to the global stage during the negotiations, where manufacturers of a given product should make sure that it is picked after use and not allowed to pollute the environment,” Macharia said.
Globally, plastic production has more than doubled in the last 15 years, with global output reaching 400 million tonnes annually. Less than 10 percent of this plastic is recycled, leaving waste to accumulate in ecosystems, harming biodiversity, and burdening marine and terrestrial environments. Plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue but also a climate, health, and social justice crisis.
Faiba Kombo, Communication Program Coordinator, Heinrich Böll Foundation, noted, “This is a critical moment for Kenya and Africa to listen to their civil societies and jointly champion a treaty that addresses the global plastics crisis and ensures the protection of our people’s health and environment.”
