At 10th Special Session Of AMCEN In Abidjan, Ivory Coast:

African Ministers Unite To Combat Land Degradation, Desertification And Plastic Pollution, And Emphasize the Urgent Need To Address The Continent’s Growing Environmental Challenges

“By prioritizing the fight against desertification, land degradation, and plastic pollution, African leaders are showing true leadership in addressing these challenges”, WWF

Ministers of Environment in the different African countries have demonstrated a high sense of unity in the fight against land degradation and plastic pollution, as they emphasize the urgent need to address the continent’s growing environmental challenges.

This posture was demonstrated at the 10^th special session of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment, AMCEN, which held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast last week, and is contained in press release on the conference which was issued in Abidjan on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at the end of the event.  The 10 special session of AMCEN which was also attended by other stake holders, concluded the session in Abidjan with a call for unity and cooperation among African nations to fight desertification, degradation and plastic pollution.

Land Degradation, Desertification And Plastic Pollution Increases Poverty Etc

The Africa’s Environment Ministers pledge their commitment to a global legally binding treaty on plastic pollution, and emphasized the urgent need for cooperation to address the continent’s environmental challenges.  The ministers highlighted the fact that these issues, that is, land degradation, desertification and plastic pollution, are increasing the rate of poverty, reducing agricultural productivity, and threatening wildlife on the continent.  It was pointed out that Africa produces only 5 % of the world’s plastic, but the continent is heavily impacted by the environmental and health consequences of plastic pollution.

The environment ministers stressed the need for a strong global treaty to address these issues, calling for measures such as phasing out harmful chemicals, promoting a circular economy, and establishing financial support mechanism to help African transition to more sustainable practices.  The African Group of Negotiators, AGN, on plastic, stated that: “We are calling for a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution, anchored in the Rio Principles, including the polluter pays principle and common but differentiated responsibilities”.  The AGN on plastic added that: “This treaty must ensure transparency, promotes sustainable solutions, and provide financial and technical support for Africa’s future”.

WWF Hails Africa’s Environment Ministers

Meanwhile WWF hailed the Africa’s environment ministers for their unified approach and firm commitment to tackling these urgent issues, that is, land degradation, desertification and plastic pollution.  “By prioritizing the fight against desertification, land degradation and plastic pollution, African leaders are showing true leadership in addressing these challenges”, said LAURENT SOME, Head of Policy and Partnership at WWF Africa. The WWF official added that: “This solidarity is essential for securing food security, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring a sustainable future for Africa’s people and natural resources”.

It would be recalled that before the start of the 10^th special session of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, WWF urged the environment ministers to strive to show strong commitment to developing an ambitious, effective and just global plastic pollution treaty, as well as try to resolve any internal differences within the African group, so as to ensure that Africa has a strong and cohesive voice in international negotiations.

    Stage Set For Unified African Voice Ahead Of Global Discussions

Meanwhile, the 10^th special session of the African Ministerial Conference which held last week, sets the stage for a unified African voice ahead of critical global discussions at upcoming international environment conferences, including the Convention On Biodiversity (CBD COP 16) in October in Cali, Columbia, Climate COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan in November, and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP 16 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia in December. The outcomes of these conferences will help shape the future of the planet for generations to come.