By Shadrack Nyakoe
Kenya has joined the High Ambition Coalition, a group of 67 nations committed to eliminating plastic pollution through a robust, legally binding international agreement.
This move is a key milestone in the ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty, which aims to address plastic waste across its entire lifecycle.
The treaty’s finalization is expected during the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) in Busan, November 2024.
Gerance Mutwol, Plastic Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, emphasized the urgency of Kenya’s leadership in endorsing the “Bridge to Busan Declaration.”
Mutwol urged the Kenyan government to advocate for reducing plastic production by at least 75% by 2040, based on 2019 levels, to help limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C and protect human health, communities, and the environment.
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“Kenya must focus on eradicating plastic pollution throughout its lifecycle and eliminate single-use plastics, especially problematic items like sachets,” Mutwol said.
He further highlighted the importance of transitioning to a low-carbon, zero-waste, reuse-oriented economy.
Kenya, along with Rwanda, has been a leader in Africa’s efforts to move towards a continent free of single-use plastics.
African and global governments must seize the opportunity presented by the Global Plastics Treaty to address this escalating crisis comprehensively.
