As Africa’s Environment Ministers meet to discuss the continent’s most pressing environmental challenges, WWF has called on them to reaffirm their commitment to developing an ambitious, effective and just global plastic pollution treaty and to resolve any internal differences within the Africa Group to ensure a strong, cohesive voice in the international negotiations.
According to a Press Release from WWF-Cameroon, the treaty represents a crucial step in eliminating the most harmful plastics and associated chemicals and securing a robust financial package to support implementation.
The Ministers are meeting in the 10th special session of the Africa Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN). The session is considered a decisive moment for Africa to assert its leadership and secure its environmental future as it comes in prelude to very important global policy events on the horizon.
WWF encourages ministers to present a united front in the lead-up to the Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on the plastic pollution treaty, scheduled for December 2024 in Busan, South Korea.
“As the continent most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, Africa requires substantial financial support to implement effective adaptation and mitigation strategies,” states Laurent Some, Head of Policy and Partnerships at WWF Africa. “We urge African governments to push for the fulfillment of climate finance commitments at COP29, ensuring that Africa can meet its climate goals and protect its most vulnerable communities.”
“Africa stands at a critical juncture and AMCEN 2024 is an opportunity for our leaders to demonstrate their resolve in ending plastic pollution and securing the climate finance essential for our continent’s future. This is not just about policy—it’s about the survival of our people and our planet,” Some states.
The conference also addresses the urgent issues of land degradation, desertification, and drought.
Ministers and other stakeholders discussed innovative strategies to sustain momentum on these critical challenges and provide guidance for key upcoming global policy events, including the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Saudi Arabia in December 2024. The outcomes of these discussions will be crucial in shaping Africa’s approach to combating land degradation and ensuring the resilience of its landscapes.
About WWF
WWF is an independent conservation organization, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
