Morocco has called for collective solidarity, regional integration, and the establishment of a legally binding international convention during the 19th session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment in Addis Ababa.
During the conference’s ministerial dialogue on policies addressing the harmful effects of plastic pollution in Africa, Leila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, underscored the urgent need for international and regional cooperation to combat plastic pollution, reported the Moroccan state media.
Minister Benali highlighted the dire consequences of plastic pollution on ecosystems and economies and expressed Morocco’s commitment to supporting international efforts aimed at curbing this environmental menace. Despite Africa’s contribution of only 5 percent to global plastic production and 4 percent to consumption, the continent faces severe repercussions due to plastic pollution.
Minister Benali emphasized that without appropriate interventions, plastic production and consumption are expected to rise significantly in the coming decades. In this context, she lauded the global commitment to negotiate a legally binding international convention on plastic pollution by 2024 within the framework of the United Nations Environment Assembly.
“We are pleased that discussions on core issues, objectives and commitments, voluntary and control measures, as well as means of implementation have already begun, and that we must have a preliminary draft of the treaty to discuss at the third meeting next November,” Minister Benali stated. She added that these discussions “require us as Africans to ensure that this agreement helps strengthen waste management systems, ensure access to adequate financing, technology transfer and capacity building, especially in our continent.”
The minister also emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive African regional plan tailored to the continent’s specific needs. This plan should set strategic guidelines for improved plastic waste management and the transition toward a circular economy in Africa, all the while promoting job creation and economic growth in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want.”
Furthermore, Minister Benali called for enhanced data collection systems to gather reliable information about plastic consumption, waste management practices, and other relevant factors across the continent. Such data would not only provide an accurate assessment of the plastic pollution situation in Africa but also facilitate science-based solutions for addressing the issue.
The minister also highlighted the importance of collaboration between environment ministers and their health counterparts in Africa, recognizing the significant impact of plastic pollution on human health.
Minister Benali stressed that transitioning to a circular economy would result in an over 80 percent reduction in plastic entering oceans by 2040, a 55 percent reduction in virgin plastic production, saving governments $70 billion by 2040, a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and the creation of an additional 700,000 jobs, particularly in the Global South.
The transition toward a circular plastic economy necessitates coordinated efforts, standardized regulations, well-crafted legislation, trade facilitation measures, and partnerships. Minister Benali emphasized the importance of ensuring that the new treaty accounts for initial actions in waste management and treatment of existing pollution.
The call for international solidarity and coordinated efforts reflects Morocco’s determination to play a leading role in addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time – plastic pollution.
