The African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Dakar, Senegal last year, provided an opportunity for ministers and delegates to strengthen their commitment in line with the outcomes of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2) on the development of an international, legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.
In the struggle to manage the ever-increasing plastic waste, some African governments are turning into dumping, open burning and incineration of waste. This makes it even worse because burning fossil fuel-based plastics produces even deadlier chemicals, magnifying the health threat and exacerbating climate change.
Africa needs to ensure end-of-life treatment of plastics waste does not release toxic chemicals, litter, or contribute to climate change. In the meantime, greater transparency on toxic chemical additives used in plastics is needed along with data on the quantities of plastics made, traded, and disposed of.
Banning the use of toxic chemical additives in plastics and scaling down all other production and phase out all non-circular plastics is what is needed to deliver Africa from the global plastic-health crisis.
AMCEN was established in December 1985, with the mandate of providing advocacy for environmental protection in Africa; ensuring that basic human needs are met adequately and in a sustainable manner; ensuring that social and economic development is realised and ensuring that agricultural activities and practices meet the food security needs of the region.
Guest Editorial