2023-06-06 12:24:23
ABIDJAN – Greenpeace Africa joins the world in celebrating the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day, hosted by Côte d’Ivoire. This day was created by the United Nations to raise awareness of environmental issues and take action to protect our environment. This year’s theme for the Day focuses on solutions to plastic pollution and finding ways to #BeatPlasticPollution.
“It is heartening to see that on this special day, countries come together to take urgent action towards a plastic-free future. This shows that our governments are slowly beginning to recognize the threat plastic pollution poses to life on this planet, to our ecosystems and to the climate,” said Nono Prudence Wanko Djiodio, Greenpeace Africa Regional Coordinator for South Africa. the West. “We hope this awareness will inspire them to step up their opposition to plastic production, which is expected to increase dramatically over the next decade,” she adds.
Africa has set many milestones to be commended in its quest to become a continent without single-use plastics. Of the 54 African states, 34 of them have passed a law banning plastics and started to implement it, or have passed a law with the intention of implementing it. However, much remains to be done to ensure the full implementation of these regulations.
“We have seen countries such as Kenya take the lead in adopting a binding global instrument to address the plastic crisis. In Morocco, the consumption of raw material used in the manufacture of plastic bags has decreased by 50% since its ban came into force in 2015. We urge other African countries to join them in ensuring effective implementation. existing regulations. Wanko continues
Single-use plastics advocates are also pushing for increased production and export to Africa. A situation that could jeopardize the progress made by countries to ban single-use plastic products and fight pollution. Africa’s leadership has the power to address these challenges and end this illegal, neo-colonialist approach to waste management once and for all.
Plastic pollution is a global crisis, and governments must work together in a more coordinated way to end this crisis through a legally binding agreement that will address the entire life cycle of plastic pollution, from production to elimination. Governments in Africa and around the world must recognize that this is a unique opportunity to stem the tide of this global crisis.
“A plastic-free future is possible in Africa if governments resist the grip of plastics advocates and take bold action to address this crisis. Cooperation between governments in Africa and around the world is essential to forging a strong global plastics treaty to turn the plastic tap off forever, for the benefit of our communities, our children, our climate and our continent.” , concludes Wanko.
Source: Greenpeace Africa press release, 05.06.23
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