FIXING THE PLASTIC POLLUTION PROBELM AND THE RESULTS OF THE JUCT CONCLUDED UNEA 5.2  ASSEMBLY: IMPLICATIONS FOR AFRICA

In context, the globe is under the weight of diverse environmental    challenges    that    threaten    human and economic development towards realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and recovery from the COVID-19 emergency. An estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic waste flow into the ocean every year as I pen this article. By 2025, 100 million to 250 million metric tons of plastic waste could enter the sea each year. Between 2021 and 2040, the cumulative cost of managing plastic waste is estimated to be US$670 billion. If we fail to take action, this inaction will pose a financial risk to economies and businesses across the globe, estimated at $100billion every year by 2040. These costs manifest as damage to livelihoods and economic industries. The newsletter covers results of UNEA 5.2 on plastic ban and how to fix the menace.

In context, the globe is under the weight of diverse environmental challenges that threaten human and economic development towards realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and recovery from the COVID-19 emergency. An estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic waste flow into the ocean every year as I pen this article. By 2025, 100 million to 250 million metric tons of plastic waste could enter the sea each year. Between 2021 and 2040, the cumulative cost of managing plastic waste is estimated to be US$670 billion. If we fail to take action, this inaction will pose a financial risk to economies and businesses across the globe, estimated at $100billion every year by 2040.These costs manifest as damage to livelihoods and key economic industries such as fishing and tourism, clean-up costs and threats to the health of the populations. On March 2, 2022, representatives from 175 nations worldwide took a historic step toward ending pollution. The United Nations Environment Assembly voted to task a committee for forging a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution by 2024.

Why is the Treaty important?

Just consider this – the chemicals in plastic have been associated with severe health problems like   hormone-related cancers, infertility, neurodevelopment disorders, among others. The plastic production process exposes communities to over 170 toxic chemicals – with children being most vulnerable. Combining the production and waste incineration of plastics is projected to emit the equivalent of 615 coal plants by 2050 to escalate climate change further.

All these risks notwithstanding, the global plastic market continues to grow. It was valued at $579.7billion in 2020 and projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 3.4% up to 2028. What the globe then needs to do is to prevent the release of all these plastics into the environment where they cause harm to human & environmental health and maintain them more in the production cycle – what we call a circular economy. Currently, less than 10% of all plastic waste globally is recycled. In Africa, the figure is much lower at about 4%. Recycling these plastics portends between $80 – 120billion in income, enterprise, and economic growth opportunities globally through the packaging industry alone.

The treaty in question comes to put in place a regulatory framework to actualize this much-needed circularity. It establishes an intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) with a mandate to negotiate a legally binding global agreement to address plastic pollution towards reducing the discharge of plastics into the environment by covering all stages of the plastic life cycle and adopting a circular economy approach to plastics. It provides a legal & policy framework within which investments in recycling and other techniques towards beating plastic pollution can be prioritized across the globe A key attribute is that the resolution is “international” or “transboundary”. This is very important to note because plastic waste is transboundary. Plastic litter knows no boundaries. When realized in the coastlines of one country, it ends up causing effects on the shores of neighbouring countries and globally. 

What does it mean for the plastic manufacturers and producers moving forward?

It means one thing – “alternative opportunities”. Recycling alone portends up to $120 billion in enterprise opportunities globally. Reusing & recycling also generates energy savings – estimated up to 87%. Those making plastics should now diversify towards recycling to tap these opportunities. In addition, as more countries put forward commitments to minimize emissions in line with the net-zero targets of 2050, carbon taxes are beginning to take effect, and plastics will be one of the areas most targeted, considering that they are projected to contribute up to 20% of emissions. Incorporating measures that reduce the sting of plastics – such as recycling & reuse – will go a long way in reducing their carbon tax liabilities. This is vital  for manufacturers of plastic items to be able to align themselves with the set standards and regulations.

Download our latest newsletter to read more about the just concluded UNEA 5.2 and its implications for Africa (Check attachment download link below)

THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE JUST CONCLUDED COP 26 (GLASGOW) FOR AFRICA : WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR AFRICA

The pragmatic optimism that pulled the globe together in 2015 to adopt the Paris Agreement was a good beginning that laid the foundation to finally iron out pending issues that prevented full, ambitious implementation of the agreement – which is what the Glasgow Climate Pact has achieved six years later. COP26 registered some notable achievements. For example, while the planet was on course to a dangerous 2.70 warming going into Glasgow, new announcements made during the conference could see warming this century limited to 2.40 C, or as little as 1.80 C if other such “commitments” from the private sector are included. In addition, parties agreed to revisit their commitments, as necessary, by the end of 2022 to put the planet on track for the safe 1.5°C warmings. The newsletter will cover all these implications in an African setting.

COP26 registered some notable achievements. For example, while the planet was on course to a dangerous 2.70 warming going into Glasgow, new announcements made during the conference could see warming this century limited to 2.40 C, or as little as 1.8o C if other such “commitments” from the private sector are included. In addition, parties agreed to revisit their commitments, as necessary, by the end of 2022 to put the planet on track for the safe 1.5°C warmings. To put this in perspective, estimates before the Paris Agreement in 2014 took the world to 3.70 C of warming this century. So, in the very short period from 2014 to 2021, predicted warming this century has fallen from 3.70 to as low as 2.40 or even 1.80. That is a very significant change. For the first time, the conference also agreed to phase-down unabated coal and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, all practical steps towards achieving the safe warming thresholds. And all this actuated in a manner that justly transitions economies to low emissions pathways.

The conference also finalized the “Paris Rule Book, “which explains the “how” of implementing the Paris Agreement. This covered key issues of cross-border collaboration in implementation that are covered under Article 6 and transparency & reporting on progress by all parties that had previously been contentious. On the critical finance issues, wealthy countries committed to doubling the collective share of adaptation finance within the $100 billion annual targets for 2021-2025. And to reach the $100 billion goals as soon as possible. Parties also committed to a process to agree on long-term climate finance beyond 2025. Implications for Africa but which way Africa? One fundamental fact is that climate change stressors did not stop even as the negotiations ended in Glasgow.

Africa continues to hold the unenviable position of being disproportionately vulnerable. For a region that has contributed least to the changing climate, accounting for only 2–3%, Africa is already heating up twice as fast as the rest of the globe, and 20 countries are already warming more quickly than the globe. By proportionality, the implication is that as the world crosses the safe target of 1.50 Celsius Africa could be approaching catastrophic levels of up 30 Celsius and with this, the escalation of socioeconomic misery that is already at breaking point is guaranteed.

This portends more bad news. Be it the 257million people experiencing hunger. The over 12million young people who need jobs every year that remain disenfranchised in unemployment. The up to 60million children are malnourished and costing the continent between 1.9% and 16% of its GDP. To a surge in vector-borne diseases like malaria. To increasing flood risks, where flooding costs between $10billion. Despite all these, another variable, the COVID-19 global pandemic, has been added to this equation of stressors This then means that Africa’s pace to build resilience must exceed the global average. The continent must aim for resilience building at least at twice the global pace. And this should follow pathways that unlock tangible socioeconomic opportunities – including food security, creating inclusive enterprise opportunities and competitive macro-economic growth. By this ensure a just transition of Africa’s communities to the low emissions development pathway.

What steps for Africa?

Already, the continent has taken steps to demonstrate this urgency. For example, the region was among the leading leaders in ratifying its first Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) commitments. Up to 98% of countries have ratified their 1st round Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that are now being built upon. This makes Africa the continent with the highest compliance rate. As countries submit second-round NDCs, already 37 countries have submitted revised NDCs, with 18 being highlighted for submitting stronger targets. Among these include Namibia, for example, which has set a target of emissions cut to the tune of 91% conditional & 14% unconditional. Ethiopia has set 68.8% conditional & 14% unconditional. Nigeria has set 47% conditional & 20% unconditional. Zimbabwe has set an emissions reduction target of 40%.

Download our latest newsletter to read more about the just concluded COP 26 at Glasgow and its implications for Africa (Check download link below)

UGANDA LEVERAGING CLIMATE ACTION SOLUTION OF SOLAR DRYERS TO DRIVE ADAPTATION NDC’S IMPLEMENTATION: THE CASE OF UGANDA

Given the dominance of agriculture as a source of livelihood, agro-industrialization driven using climate action solutions offers a great opportunity for Uganda and Africa to embark on its long-term aspiration of transitioning into a modern industrial economy.