In a recent address at the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment in Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia, Elizabeth Mrema, the Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), highlighted the critical role of collaboration in tackling Africa’s environmental challenges. She emphasized the unique position of Africa, which contributes the least to environmental degradation yet bears the brunt of its impacts.
Mrema, recognizing the significance of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment over the past four decades, noted its role in uniting the continent against pressing environmental threats. This platform has given Africa a powerful voice on the global stage, a voice that is now more crucial than ever.
The challenges facing Africa are indeed formidable. With a population of 1.4 billion, the continent grapples with the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Mrema urged a paradigm shift in Africa’s economic model to confront these crises head-on.
One pressing issue that Mrema addressed is plastic pollution. Annually, humanity produces over 430 million tonnes of plastic, a significant portion of which ends up as waste. This plastic scourge has infiltrated Africa’s rivers, polluted its air, and even entered the human food chain. Mrema highlighted the upcoming International Negotiating Committee meeting in Nairobi, which aims to develop a global binding agreement on plastic pollution. She urged African leaders to actively participate in these discussions, sharing both their opinions and innovative solutions.
The speech also underscored the importance of upcoming environmental events, such as the Africa Climate Summit, the International Conference on Chemicals Management, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, and the UN Climate Change Conference.
Mrema called on African governments to play an active role in these forums, as their voices are essential for shaping global environmental policies.
As the conversation turned to UNEA (UN Environment Assembly), Mrema emphasized its significance and the need for early preparations. With the submission deadline for draft resolutions set for December 18, active engagement and thoughtful negotiation are key to ensuring a successful outcome.
In closing, Mrema reiterated UNEP’s unwavering commitment to assisting Africa in addressing the triple planetary crisis. The organization is dedicated to supporting Africa’s vision for a sustainable and prosperous future, one in which the continent’s potential is fully realized.
In summary, Elizabeth Mrema’s speech at the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment highlighted the urgent need for collaboration and innovative solutions to address Africa’s environmental challenges. As the continent faces the complex interplay of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, Mrema’s call to action resonates as a powerful rallying cry for governments, businesses, and individuals alike to work together towards a more sustainable future.
