Greenpeace Africa Calls for Bold Climate and Plastic Reduction Action at AMCEN 2024

As African ministers gather for the 10th Special Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, Greenpeace Africa is pressing for radical environmental measures. With the triple threat of climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss looming over the continent, the environmental organization is calling on African leaders to adopt transformative policies and commit to concrete actions.

Greenpeace's key messages underscore the interconnected nature of current environmental challenges and their far-reaching impacts. Hellen Dena, Pan African Plastics Lead at Greenpeace Africa, emphasized the significance of plastic pollution's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, which intensify issues such as desertification and drought. She advocates for a Global Plastics Treaty that necessitates a drastic 75% reduction in plastic production by 2040 to maintain global warming within the 1.5°C target and preserve the environment for subsequent generations. Sustainable replacements, refill and reuse systems, and a just transition that foregrounds frontline communities were among the strategies Dena highlighted that African leaders should promote.

Stella Tchoukep, a Forest Campaigner with Greenpeace Africa, pointed out that land degradation, climate change, and desertification are ravaging the continent, adversely affecting land productivity, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Rural populations, Indigenous Peoples, and vulnerable groups often bear the brunt of these environmental crises. The development policies enacted across the continent, often influenced by colonial legacies, contribute to these issues. Tchoukep called on the assembled ministers to prioritize solutions that concurrently safeguard biodiversity and respect the rights of communities that have historically preserved forests.

On the political front, Fred Njehu, Pan African Political Strategist, outlined the opportunity before African ministers to influence the global environmental agenda positively. With upcoming significant conferences such as the Convention for Biodiversity 16 in Cali and UNFCCC COP 29 in Baku, AMCEN serves as a critical platform for setting agendas. Njehu delineated key focus areas, including deliberation on a New Collective and Quantified Goal on Finance (NCQG) to tackle climate loss, damage, mitigation, and the ever-increasing need for adaptation in Africa. Moreover, he stressed the importance of delineating a path away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy solutions.

At the heart of Greenpeace Africa's entreaty is a plea to African leaders to ensure that conference outcomes are not merely rhetorical but reflect definitive commitments to substantial reductions in plastic production, the advancement of climate adaptation strategies, and escalation of investments in renewable energy and sustainable practices. These commitments could propel the continent toward a more sustainable future, in line with the AMCEN 2024 theme.