Page 7 - AfrElec Week 09 2022

AfrElec POLICY AfrElec

UNEA Nations commit to

develop a legally binding

agreement on plastic pollution

AFRICA THE United Nations Environment Assem- burning of plastics contributes to air pollution.
bly (UNEA-5) meeting in Kenya’s capital has “Today marks a triumph by planet earth over
resolved to end plastic pollution and forge an single-use plastics. This is the most significant
international legally binding agreement by 2024. environmental multilateral deal since the Paris
Heads of state, ministers of environment and accord,” UNEP Executive Director Inger Ander-
other representatives from 175 nations endorsed sen said.
the historic resolution that addresses the full life- UNEP will convene a forum by the end of
cycle of plastic including its production, design 2022 that is open to all stakeholders in conjunc-
and disposal, on March 2. tion with the first session of the INC, to share
United Nations Environment Programme knowledge and best practices in different parts
(UNEP) said the resolution establishes an Inter- of the world.
governmental Negotiating Committee (INC) It will facilitate open discussions and ensure
that will begin its work this year with the aim they are informed by science, reporting on pro-
of completing a draft global and legally binding gress throughout the next two years. Upon com-
agreement by the end of 2024. pletion of the INC’s work, UNEP will convene a
It is expected to present a legally binding diplomatic conference to adopt its outcome and
instrument that would reflect diverse alterna- open it for signatures.
tives to address the full lifecycle of plastics, the Plastic production soared from 2mn tonnes
design of reusable and recyclable products and in 1950 to 348 mn tons in 2017, becoming a
materials among others. global industry valued at 522.6 bn, and it is
“Plastic pollution has grown into an epi- expected to double in capacity by 2040.
demic. With today’s resolution, we are officially “We look forward to working with the INC
on track for a cure,” said Espen Eide, the UNEA-5 and are optimistic about the opportunity to cre-
president and Norway’s Minister for Climate and ate a legally binding treaty as a framework for
the Environment. national ambition-setting, monitoring, invest-
Exposure to plastics can harm human ment, and knowledge transfer to end plastic pol-
health, potentially affecting fertility, hormonal, lution,” said Rwanda’s Minister of Environment
metabolic and neurological activity, and open Dr Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya.™

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