Kenya Joins Global Effort to Eliminate Plastics Pollution
Kenya has taken a significant step towards a plastics-free future by joining the High Ambition Coalition, a group of 67 nations working together to eliminate plastics pollution. The coalition aims to establish a robust international legally binding instrument that mandates urgent actions and effective measures throughout the entire lifecycle of plastics.
Gerance Mutwol, Plastic campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, welcomed Kenya’s decision, urging the government to endorse and sign the Bridge to Busan Declaration. "Kenya should champion a treaty that prioritizes reducing plastic production by at least 75% by 2040, based on the 2019 baseline, in order to maintain global temperatures below 1.5° C and safeguard our health, rights, communities, and the planet," Mutwol emphasized.
Kenya’s commitment to eradicating plastic pollution is crucial, as the country has been at the forefront of the fight against single-use plastics. Rwanda, another African nation, has also been a pioneer in this effort. The Global Plastics Treaty presents a unique opportunity for governments across Africa and globally to address the mounting global crisis of plastic pollution.
According to Mutwol, Kenya must endeavor to eradicate plastic pollution throughout its entire lifecycle to protect both the environment and human health. This includes eliminating single-use plastics, beginning with problematic items such as sachets. The country must also transition towards a just and inclusive low-carbon, zero-waste, toxic-free, reuse-oriented economy.
The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) is scheduled to take place in Busan in November 2024, where discussions for a comprehensive and effective treaty will conclude. Kenya’s membership in the High Ambition Coalition is a significant development at a crucial juncture in the negotiations.
For interview inquiries, please contact Luchelle Feukeng, Communication and Storytelling Manager, Greenpeace Africa, at [email protected] or +237 656 46 35 45, or Gerance Mutwol, Plastic Campaigner, at [email protected] or +254 708 028 390.
