African leaders engage on environmental matters

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy has emphasised the importance of accelerating work on reducing vulnerability to climate change impacts.

This work must focus on delivering key mandates such as the operationalisation of the Global Goal on Adaptation; the Loss and Damage Fund; the Mitigation Work Programmes as well as the adoption of the modalities and scope for the Just Transition Work Programme.

Creecy made these remarks at the Nineteenth Ordinary Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that kicked off on Thursday.

The two-day session is providing a platform for strengthening Africa’s collective engagement in the global environmental agenda under the theme: “Seizing opportunities and enhancing collaboration to address environmental challenges in Africa.”

Ministers will consider a declaration and decisions prepared by senior officials during the expert segment on a number of issues including preparations for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP28).

They will also consider Africa’s participation in the development of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment and preparations for the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) among other agenda items.

As part of the engagements, there will be a number of Ministerial dialogues including on climate finance and protecting human health and the environment from the adverse effects of plastic pollution in Africa.

“It is critical that the UNFCCC COP28 accelerates work on reducing vulnerability to climate change impacts,” the Minister said on Thursday.

She emphasised that Africa’s approach to climate change must be premised on the principle of equity and the recognition of Africa’s Right to Development.

She further noted the critical links between building low carbon, climate resilient societies and sustainable development necessary to address Africa’s triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.

“South Africa looks forward to the inaugural African Climate Summit to be hosted in Kenya next month and the role this summit can play in the adoption of a well-coordinated Common African Position ahead of COP 28,” the Minister said.

Creecy will also take the opportunity to engage with fellow African Environment Ministers, to obtain their approach to the Global Stocktake, as requested by the COP 28 President.

Plastic pollution and pesticides

On the issue of Africa’s participation in the development of an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution, including in the Marine Environment, Creecy said South Africa remains deeply committed to the development of a comprehensive agreement to end plastic pollution.

In this regard, South Africa has shared the domestic experience of the Polluter Pays Principle and its usefulness in holding producers of plastic products accountable through the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations.

South Africa supports the establishment of a Global Alliance to encourage partnerships and actions on highly hazardous pesticides.

Furthermore, South Africa supports the need for transparency to be able to manage chemicals safety through amongst others labelling, the Global Harmonised System, strengthening customs control, and other relevant measures. 

The AMCEN was created in 1985 to promote regional cooperation between African governments in addressing environmental challenges confronting the continent. –SAnews.gov.za