The United Nations Environment Assembly will meet for three days in Nairobi’s capital to discuss holistic solutions to the world’s environmental problems. The fight against plastic pollution will be one of the main topics. Governments are expected to agree to a legally binding agreement to eliminate plastic pollution.
The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).is the highest-ranking authority on the environment in the world. Every two years, 193 UN member States, as well as youth groups and civil society, meet together to agree on policies that address the most pressing environmental problems.
They will also discuss global solutions to the problem of plastic pollution at this fifth meeting.
“We will have discussions and decisions on limiting plastic pollution, how to stop harmful chemicals from agriculture… and how can we deploy nature to find solutions to sustainable development,” Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
For example, small businesses in Benin have been able transform an invasive plant into a chance to create sustainable products.
The invasive water Hyacinth, which is a Brazilian species, has been threatening navigation and fishing on Lake Nokue for decades. However, a local start up has managed to stop the spread of the invasive water hyacinth. Green Keeper AfricaSince 2014, this plant has been transformed into absorbents to prevent the loss of pollutants like oil spillages. It can also be used to make compost and bio-fuel.
A cooperative of women harvests the water Hyacinth. They use the dried fibres to make baskets, home decor, and eco-friendly packaging.
Stop plastic pollution
Technical experts have been hard at work drafting a framework agreement to eliminate plastic pollution ahead of the UN Environment Assembly.
Andersen stated, “This is our chance for us to start to act on the science that is telling us.”
The NGO was founded in 2001. Our World in Data Report“80 percent of the world’s ocean plastics enter the ocean via rivers or coastlines,” and “81 percent” of ocean plastics comes from Asian rivers.
“An estimated 11,000,000 tonnes of plastic waste are thrown into the ocean each year. It has a 50-billion dollar impact on the planet. “We all pay, in one way or another.” Patricia Kameri-MboteRFI. She is UNEP’s director for the law division.
To provide the basis for negotiations to draft the treaty, the proposals from Japan and Peru were combined into one text.
“They are supported in 54 countries, of which quite some are African,” she said.
I took a break at UN #plastictreatyToday’s talks include a visit to East Africa’s largest dump. The 30 acre site is covered in single-use plastic packaging made by some of the biggest brands. Thread 1/9 pic.twitter.com/aGxKIYwGFv
— John Geddie (@geddiejdk) February 26, 2022
According to an Investigation by ReutersNews agency: The powerful oil and chemical corporations that make plastics have been urging governments against any restrictions to their business.
Espen Barth Eide is the president of UNEA. He stated, “This isn’t an anti–plastics treaty.” “We aren’t after their product as such, but rather, we want to make it more sustainable and circular.”
Ghana’s plastic house: A step towards reducing the country’s pollution
To broker a final deal, politicians will need to approve the framework resolution.
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The negotiations are expected take at least two more years. However, the framework reached in Nairobi is considered crucial in determining the success of the treaty.
Campaigner said, “If we don’t get a proper formulation, the INC won’t be able to consider all elements.” Christina DixonFrom the Environmental Investigation Agency.
“In international law, sometimes one word can make the difference between getting what your want and not.”
Since last week, environmental pressure group have been in Nairobi observing the technical-level discussions on this treaty and meeting with officials to push their case on key issues.
The UNEA will be followed by a special session of the Assembly on the 3 and 4 March. This session will mark UNEP 50thYear of existence.
UNEP’s Andersen says, “50 years of delivering scientific knowledge, 50 years of helping countries to build environmental law brick by brick.”
