As finance remained the focal point at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), stakeholders in Africa’s maritime sector expressed concerns that the continent may miss crucial opportunities in the global marine industry without addressing its significant challenges.
Participants at the LEAP side event at COP29
During a marine and blue economy discussion, Dr. Dola Oluteye, Principal Investigator of University College London’s Leading Effective Afrocentric Participation (LEAP) project, in partnership with Nigeria’s Ministry for Marine and Blue Economy, organised a side event to explore the future of Africa’s maritime sector.
Hosted at the Nigerian Pavilion, the panel featured Dr. Dola Oluteye, Senior Research Fellow at University College London (UCL); Ms. Kidanua Gizaw from the African Development Bank (AfDB); Mr. Heaky Dimowo, Director at Nigeria’s Maritime and Safety Administration (NIMASA); Mr. Michael Mbaru of the Kenya Maritime Authority; and Mr. Stanley Ahorlu, CEO of Prime Meridian Docks, who participated remotely.
Mr. Mbaru opened the discussions by highlighting ongoing negotiations at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in international shipping.
He noted, “Africa’s ship ownership represents about 2% of the global fleet supply, most of which is aging. This raises questions about our ability to retrofit existing fleets with new technologies and remain competitive.”
From the private sector perspective, Mr. Ahorlu stressed the importance of aligning maritime investments with climate goals to attract funding: “The private sector has a significant role to play in this transition. We need financial mechanisms that stimulate investment in maritime infrastructure.”
Dr. Oluteye emphasised the need for Africa to prioritise investments in green infrastructure and renewable energy projects to become a renewable energy supply powerhouse.
She pointed out the necessity for Africa to reimagine and reshape existing structures to improve the region’s production capabilities and capacity for both GDP growth and to manage, among other things, the transport cost increases associated with policy architecture under development by the International Maritime Organisation’s GHG Emissions Reduction Strategy. Stating that since over 90% of Africa’s trading relies on international shipping, it then becomes an economic imperative to strategically reshape existing regional trading, fiscal and environmental policies and systems.
Underscoring Africa’s abundant renewable resources (sun, wind, land, water) and youthful workforce as key assets, Dr Oluteye, “This is the era for a Green Industrialized Africa, powered by zero and near-zero emissions renewable energy sources, with potential to position Africa as a major supplier of renewable energy commodities.”
She immediately cautioned against the risks of promoting energy poverty due to highly extractive energy production models that puts Africa’s growth second. Rather, this reshaping of systems must strategically prioritise Africa’s growth above destructive extractive activities.
To foster progress, Dr. Oluteye advocates for “policy frameworks that support sustainable and green industrial practices, underpinned by policies that foster an enabling environment for private sector investment with partnerships with the public sector.”
She emphasises the need to engage policymakers to create a conducive regulatory environment in all sectors, especially the marine and blue economy sector.
Mr. Dimowo echoed this sentiment, calling for “innovative financing and strong regulatory frameworks” to drive advancement in Africa’s maritime industry. He also advocated for a continent-wide strategy starting with the African Union that aligns the efforts of African leaders under the African Union’s umbrella.
Ms. Gizaw highlighted the AFDB’s pivotal role in managing diverse climate-related funds to support green maritime initiatives and infrastructure development across Africa. She introduced the Climate Investment Fund (CIF), a multilateral initiative supporting climate-related actions in over 72 recipient countries.
Ms. Gizaw shared that the fund focuses on renewable energy, clean technology, and circular economy projects, with a specific Industry Decarbonisation Programme to address the shipping and maritime industry by providing concessional loans, grants, and technical assistance to promote green infrastructure and energy-efficient technologies.
In summary, while Africa faces numerous challenges in maximising its marine and blue economy, experts agree that with strategic investments in green infrastructure development combined with innovative policymaking, the continent can unlock its significant economic potential.
The Leading Effective Afrocentric Participation (LEAP) project, led by Dr. Dola Oluteye, aims to empower African nations by developing technical toolkit to promote a Just Transition and Sustainable Practices for Africa within the maritime sector. Partnering with regional governments and international organisations, LEAP focuses on technical development, capacity building, economic empowerment, technology sharing and inclusive advocacy to advance Africa’s marine and blue economy to achieve zero-emission operations.
Countries negotiating an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, adjourned their fifth session on Sunday, December 1, 2024, with agreement on a ‘Chair’s Text’ that will serve as the starting point for negotiations at a resumed session in 2025.
Delegates gather for the closing plenary. Photo credit: IISD/ENB – Kiara Worth
Over 3,300 delegates – including Members representing more than 170 nations and Observers from more than 440 organisations – have been meeting in Busan, Republic of Korea, since 25 November for the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5). Through the week, Members negotiated two documents by the INC Chair, Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso, before agreeing on the closing day to transmit the Chair’s Text to the resumed session.
“The world’s commitment to ending plastic pollution is clear and undeniable. Here in Busan, talks have moved us closer to agreeing on a global legally binding treaty that will protect our health, our environment, and our future from the onslaught of plastic pollution,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
“This week’s meeting has made good progress towards securing the deal the world demands. Through the Busan talks, negotiators have reached a greater degree of convergence on the structure and elements of the treaty text, as well as a better understanding of country positions and shared challenges. But it is clear there is persisting divergence in critical areas and more time is needed for these areas to be addressed.”
“At UNEA 5.2, the world promised to tackle plastic pollution. Now, at the next round of talks, the world will have the opportunity to finally make that a reality. An opportunity we cannot afford to miss,” she added.
Following INC-5, the Committee is expected to request the Executive Director of UNEP to inform delegations of the venue for the resumed fifth session.
“Our mandate has always been ambitious. But ambition takes time to land. We have many of the elements that we need, and Busan has put us firmly on a pathway to success,” said Ambassador Vayas. “I call on all delegations to continue making paths, building bridges, and engaging in dialogue.”
“Let us always remember that our purpose is noble and urgent: to reverse and remedy the severe effects of plastic pollution on ecosystems and human health,” he added.
In March 2022, at the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), a historic resolution was adopted to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. The instrument, according to the resolution, is to be based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic, including its production, design, and disposal.
“We have tested the resilience of this planet to its limit, now is the time for us push our own limits and honour the trust placed in us – we have no choice but to succeed. You have the INC Secretariat’s and my unwavering support to get this done,” said Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary of the INC Secretariat.
INC-5 follows four earlier rounds of negotiations: INC-1, which took place in Punta del Este, in November 2022, INC-2, which was held in Paris in June 2023, INC-3, which happened in Nairobi in November 2023, and INC-4, held in Ottawa in April 2024.
Environment activists hold a press conference calling for a strong global plastics treaty outside of the venue for the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution in Busan, South Korea. Photo credit: AP
Delegates agreed to meet again next year to continue talks after a week of negotiations between almost 200 countries in Busan, South Korea, failed to agree on core issues like production cap, finance and harmful chemicals.
Small island nations, who are the most affected by plastics pollution, and a group of African nations as well as several European and developing countries refused to accept a draft proposal released by the chair of the UN talks which was slammed by observers as weak.
“We did not accept a weak treaty here, and we never will,” Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, of Panama, said at the plenary, receiving a long round of applause from delegates.
Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso said progress had been made but he acknowledged “we must also recognise that a few critical issues still prevent us from reaching a comprehensive agreement.”
“There is a general agreement to resume the current session at a later date to conclude our negotiations,” he told delegates.
Sunday, December 1, 2024, was the scheduled end of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) talks, but the plenary couldn’t start until 9pm after a draft text released by the presidency showed multiple unresolved provisions.
The text released late on Sunday ahead of the final plenary, was filled with brackets, providing multiple options on key issues such as binding targets to cut plastic production, regulating harmful chemicals, and funding support for developing nations, where no consensus had been reached.
Global South countries and campaigners said the proposal failed to address the root causes of plastic pollution, while campaigners said the text was “weak” and lacked ambition.
“The draft on the table does not yet provide a clear path to a successful outcome, drowning humanity in a sea of brackets,” Greenpeace said. “Chasing the lowest ambition will not deliver a treaty that the people and planet desperately need.”
Early on Sunday, Global South countries called out the lack of transparency in the process and threatened to walk out without a treaty.
“No text is better than bad text,” said, Cheikh Ndiaye Sylla, Senegal’s National Focal Point.
Dr Sam Adu-Kumi, Ghana’s lead negotiator, said: “The whole world is looking up to us… We are not here to accept anything short of an ambitious treaty.”
At the heart of the impasse was whether the treaty would include limits on plastic production. Over 100 nations, including small islands, African nations and several European and developing countries like Norway and Mexico, back a proposal to set a global target for reducing plastic production.
The amount of plastics the world is producing has been growing exponentially and could climb about 70 per cent by 2040 without policy changes.
Plastic waste is clogging beaches, polluting soil, air and water with microplastics seeping into human organs and even breast milk. Many chemicals associated with plastics have been known to cause harm to health.
In the final days, delegates had already started preparing for an action plan beyond Busan, as it became obvious there was no chance of a consensus.
Some experts said that even if a legally binding treaty is not created in Busan, there is still a chance of having a blueprint for future negotiations.
“There’s no way to finish the text here. The next step is agreeing on a process for beyond Busan,” Bjorn Beeler, executive director of the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), said.
Hugo Schally, Advisor for International Negotiations, Director General for the Environment, European Commission said: “The EU is disappointed by the outcome of INC-5: we didn’t get what we came here for: a legally binding treaty with decisive action against plastic pollution, a treaty that brings concrete change for nature and the marine environment and for all the people around the world. We need these measures, in addition to waste management and a fair share of the private sector through extending the responsibility of producers. That’s the bare minimum that can have an impact and that we can accept.
“But we feel encouraged and empowered by a growing number of countries sharing the same ambitions – and the number of countries continues to grow. The EU was and will continue to be a driving force for an ambitious agreement. We will work further in good faith with others to make a leap towards ending plastic pollution.”
Olga Givernet, Minister Delegate for Energy of France, said: “We hope that the 5.2 process can move forward before June 2025. The aim is to reach an ambitious agreement that will enable us to address all the causes of pollution, from production and the need to reduce it, to the inclusion of chemicals of concern and end of the life.
“Our work has not been in vain. It has enabled us to move forward, try to understand each other and take into account all points of view. We’re back on track with the text as proposed by the Presidency, so we still need to refine everyone’s positions if we’re to have an ambitious treaty.
“We still have a minority of countries that continue to obstruct us, as we saw again during this plenary session, and we hope to be able to remove these obstructions and work towards convergence. We must always have confidence in multilateralism and work to ensure that countries can talk to each other.”
Ms. Maria Angelica Ikeda, Director of the Department of Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil, said: “Brazil has, once again, come to the INC ready to commit to a robust agreement, both on financing and means of implementation and on the obligations to end plastic pollution. We also facilitated negotiations, be it as co-chair or co-facilitators, always trying to advance difficult issues such as chemicals of concern, plastic products, health and means of implementation.
“Although we would have wanted to see the final text adopted, we recognise that progress was made and are ready to keep on contributing, as much as we can, to offer ideas and proposals or to facilitate understandings amongst different countries. We are optimistic that we will achieve a good, meaningful, strong result in our next meeting.”
Christina Dixon, Ocean Campaign Lead at Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), said: “We have run out of time in Busan to land a global plastics treaty and have ultimately failed to live up to the mandate and opportunity handed to us. These negotiations have been captured by plastic and petrochemical industries and their aligned countries, who have no intention to address plastic pollution or let others do so. In the face of this obstructionism, large groups of diverse countries led rallying calls for an ambitious treaty. We have won the hearts and minds of the majority of the world and will continue to fight in solidarity with those seeking real solutions to end the harms of plastic pollution.”
Ana Rocha, Global Plastics Policy Director, GAIA, said: “We welcome Member States’ willingness to fight for a better deal instead of rushing into a weak treaty for the sake of an arbitrary deadline. But we cannot keep doing things the same way and expect different results– that is the definition of insanity. The ambitious majority needs to do whatever it takes to get these negotiations back on track and reclaim the spirit of multilateralism. Now is not the time for timidity. It is time to fight for our collective survival.”
International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics said: “Indigenous Peoples, and other frontline and fenceline communities, and civil society have been flagrantly excluded throughout the INC process. The Chair’s failure to effectively facilitate negotiations for a just and equitable plastics treaty has brought us down a dead-end path, perpetuating harm to the most impacted peoples and communities.”
Amena Yauvoli, Fiji’s Ambassador to Indonesia, said: “Fiji is deeply disappointed with the procedural processes adopted during these negotiations and informal meetings, which caused significant delays, disrupted progress, and placed undue pressure on small delegations. The restrictive rules of procedure hindered effective engagement, particularly for observers, scientists, and Indigenous rights holders. We wish to emphasise that while this is a member-state-driven process, true multilateralism demands balanced, equitable participation to ensure this treaty works for all.
“We can only protect what we know, and our children carry the hope nurtured by elders who once lived in communities free of plastic pollution. It’s important to recognize that plastic pollution is worsening the triple planetary crisis, with the Pacific Islands experiencing its effects most acutely. I urge everyone to understand that choosing inaction now puts you at risk of facing these consequences in time – and if there’s one thing we know about plastics is that they are persistent pollutants that last generations.
“We have a unique opportunity before us, one that carries the weight of a mandate. We can develop a treaty that becomes a lasting legacy, demonstrating our resilience and commitment to our planet and future generations.”
Juan Monterrey, Special Representative for Climate Change & National Climate Change Director of the Ministry of Environment of Panama, said: “We didn’t achieve what we came for – a binding treaty that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics. Yet, amidst disappointment, there are small glimmers of progress.
“We have built a coalition of over 100 nations united by the shared commitment to end plastic pollution. This coalition has stood and will continue to stand firm for ambition – demanding action on chemicals of concern, reductions in harmful plastic production, and the financial mechanisms needed to support a fair transition in developing countries.
“The momentum is with this overwhelming majority, even if the challenges are still daunting. Every day of delay is a day against humanity. Postponing negotiations does not postpone the crisis. By the time we reconvene: At 230 million tons of plastic will enter our oceans, another million marine animals will die, and will further contaminate the ocean food chain.
“Microplastics will continue to infiltrate our water, food, and bodies. Every child born in the next six months will carry this poison in their bloodstream. Human bodies will further devolve into toxic waste dumps.
“Communities will endure the lasting effect of plastic pollution, and farmers will face crop losses as soils saturate with microplastics. This is not just an environmental crisis it’s a moral failure. An entire generation is being poisoned by chemicals in plastics – chemicals linked to cancers, hormonal disruptions, and developmental disorders.
“Panama came to Busan committed to building bridges, not walls. We crossed our own red lines for the sake of compromise and multilateralism. And while your current text is far from what we envisioned, it provides a basis to continue.
“We didn’t accept a weak treaty here, and we never will.
“We have two fundamental beliefs. First, we understand that the triple planetary crisis of climate, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss, is a threat to the very existence of our country and its people.
“But also, Panama is deeply committed with multilateralism, and we understand that it is through dialogue, bridge-building and honest to God diplomacy that multilateralism must be able to face the biggest challenge of our times.
“However, our disposal to negotiate, does not mean we will lower our expectations of what this treaty SHOULD be able to achieve and encompass.
“To the 120 nations standing for ambition, I say: let us be relentless. We may have been delayed, but we will not be stopped.
“To the activists and civil society who have carried this fight: you are the heartbeat of this movement. Your courage and relentless pursuit of justice keep this fight alive. Rest, recharge, and return stronger.
“To indigenous peoples and local communities: your wisdom is our guide. You continue to show the world what harmony with nature truly means.
“To the media: continue to tell the truth.
“To young people: your anger is justified. Your fear is valid. I share it. But remember that your voices are louder than the billions spent polluting. Your generation will save us all.
“This is not about commas or brackets. It’s about the child in a coastal village who will drink water poisoned by plastic tomorrow. It’s about the fisherman pulling in empty nets filled with waste. It’s about the millions of species we are sentencing to extinction. It is about 90% of all drinking water sources currently poisoned by plastic.
“Panama leaves Busan with fire in our hearts. When we reconvene, the stakes will be higher, the devastation will be worse, and the opportunity to act will be even smaller. But Panama and the more than 100 nations that demand action will return stronger, louder, and more determined than ever. Delay is death. Action is survival. We are eating and drinking poison every single day. The world cannot afford our hesitation any longer.”
Camila Zepeda, Head of Delegation for Mexico, Head of the International Affairs Unit at SEMARNAT, Mexico’s Chief Climate and Biodiversity Negotiator, said: “We carry the weight of expectations of our citizens – who are counting on us to protect them and the environment from the plastic pollution crisis. We must do everything within our power to meet this expectation.
“This is our shared determination: to ensure this instrument will target and eliminate the most urgent risks of plastic pollution at the global level.
“The Article on Plastic Products and Chemicals in the instrument text must contain a clear, legally binding obligation to phase out the most harmful plastic products and chemicals of concern in plastics.
“Without such an obligation, the instrument will fail to deliver the predictable regulatory framework urgently needed by states, businesses, civil society and the environment.
“A treaty without clear legally binding rules is not acceptable. It would reflect neither the ambition, nor the specific text proposals supported by the vast majority of states in these negotiations. It would be a treaty in name only.
“A legally binding obligation to phase out those most harmful plastic products and chemicals of concern in plastics is a cornerstone for an effective treaty. It is what we must do to protect human health and the environment from plastic pollution as promised by UNEA Resolution 5/14.”
Nigeria and 84 other countries taking part in the ongoing INC-5 negotiations in Busan have expressed support for the “Standing up for Ambition”, a statement on indispensable elements for an effective treaty.
Delegates gather for the opening of INC-5. Photo credit: KiaravWorth
Against backdrop of the first draft text released on Sunday, December 1, 2024, the group for instance expressed concerns about ongoing calls by another countries to remove binding provisions from the text that they feel are indispensable for the treaty to be effective.
The full statement:
“We stand in solidarity with the vast majority of INC Member States working constructively to find common ground and to conclude an urgently needed, effective treaty. We have made much-needed progress on a range of issues that will be critical for the treaty to achieve its goal of protecting human health and the environment from the adverse effects of plastic pollution.
“However, we voice our strong concerns about ongoing calls by a small group of countries to remove binding provisions from the text that are indispensable for the treaty to be effective.
“Ambition must be reflected throughout the treaty, covering binding provisions and support provided. The treaty must:
Include a requirement for the Conference of the Parties to adopt, at its first session, in an annex a global target to reduce the production of primary plastic polymers to sustainable levels, and for each Party to take measures across the full lifecycle of plastics to achieve the global target
Establish a clear and legally binding obligation to phase out the most harmful plastic products and chemicals of concern in plastics
Provide ambitious and effective means of implementation, including technical assistance and timely, accessible, predictable and adequate financing from all sources for recipient developing countries, in particular Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States
Enable future development, including by adopting new annexes or amending existing annexes, through regular UN procedures for decision making if all efforts at consensus have been exhausted
“A treaty that lacks these elements and only relies on voluntary measures would not be acceptable.
“Those most affected by plastic pollution must be supported in the development of inclusive and equitable pathways forward. A just transition is critical to the success of this treaty, ensuring that no one is left behind.
“We are operating under a clear mandate from the UN Environment Assembly – a mandate fully supported by all INC members. It is time we take it seriously and negotiate a treaty that is fit for purpose and not built to fail.
“We call on all INC members to seize this historic opportunity to conclude an ambitious and effective treaty that demonstrates our collective resolve to end plastic pollution for the benefit of current and future generations.”
A major new scientific report was launched on Sunday, December 1, 2024, a day ahead of the opening of the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16). The report charts an urgent course correction for how the world grows food and uses land in order to avoid irretrievably compromising Earth’s capacity to support human and environmental wellbeing.
UNCCD COP16 takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from Dec. 2 to 13, 2024, with the theme: “Our Land, Our Future”
The report draws on roughly 350 information sources to examine land degradation and opportunities to act from a planetary boundaries’ perspective. It underlines that land is the foundation of Earth’s stability and regulates climate, preserves biodiversity, maintains freshwater systems and provides life-giving resources including food, water and raw materials.
It outlines how deforestation, urbanisation and unsustainable farming are causing global land degradation at an unprecedented scale, threatening not only different Earth system components but human survival itself. The deterioration of forests and soils further undermines Earth’s capacity to cope with the climate and biodiversity crises, which in turn accelerate land degradation in a vicious, downward cycle of impacts.
“If we fail to acknowledge the pivotal role of land and take appropriate action, the consequences will ripple through every aspect of life and extend well into the future, intensifying difficulties for future generations,” said UNCCD Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Thiaw.
According to the UNCCD, the global area impacted by land degradation – approx. 15 million km², more than the entire continent of Antarctica or nearly the size of Russia – is expanding each year by about a million square km.
Planetary boundaries
The report situates both problems and potential solutions related to land use within the scientific framework of the planetary boundaries, which has rapidly gained policy relevance since its unveiling 15 years ago.
“The aim of the planetary boundaries framework is to provide a measure for achieving human wellbeing within Earth’s ecological limits,” said Johan Rockström, lead author of the seminal study introducing the concept in 2009.
“We stand at a precipice and must decide whether to step back and take transformative action, or continue on a path of irreversible environmental change,” he adds.
The planetary boundaries define nine critical thresholds essential for maintaining Earth’s stability. The report talks about how humanity uses or abuses land directly impacts seven of these, including climate change, species loss and ecosystem viability, freshwater systems and the circulation of naturally occurring elements nitrogen and phosphorus. Change in land use is also a planetary boundary.
Six boundaries have already been breached to date, and two more are close to their thresholds: ocean acidification and the concentration of aerosols in the atmosphere. Only stratospheric ozone – the object of a 1989 treaty to reduce ozone-depleting chemicals – is firmly within its “safe operating space”.
Unsustainable agricultural practices
Conventional agriculture is the leading culprit of land degradation according to the report, contributing to deforestation, soil erosion and pollution. Unsustainable irrigation practices deplete freshwater resources, while excessive use of nitrogen- and phosphorus-based fertilizers destabilise ecosystems. Degraded soils lower crop yields and nutritional quality, directly impacting the livelihoods of vulnerable populations. Secondary effects include greater dependency on chemical inputs and increased land conversion for farming.
Climate change
Meanwhile, climate change – which has long since breached its own planetary boundary – accelerates land degradation through extreme weather events, prolonged droughts, and intensified floods. Melting mountain glaciers and altered water cycles heighten vulnerabilities, especially in arid regions. Rapid urbanisation intensifies these challenges, contributing to habitat destruction, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
The report also states that land ecosystems absorbed nearly one third of human-caused CO₂ pollution, even as those emissions increased by half. Over the last decade, however, deforestation and climate change have reduced by 20% the capacity of trees and soil to absorb excess CO₂.
Transformative action
According to the report, transformative action to combat land degradation is needed to ensure a return to the safe operating space for the land-based planetary boundaries. Just as the planetary boundaries are interconnected, so must be the actions to prevent or slow their transgression. Principles of fairness and justice are key when designing and implementing transformative actions to stop land degradation, ensuring that benefits and burdens are equitably distributed.
Agriculture reform, soil protection, water resource management, digital solutions, sustainable or “green” supply chains, equitable land governance along with the protection and restoration of forests, grasslands, savannas and peatlands are crucial for halting and reversing land and soil degradation.
From 2013 to 2018, more than half-a-trillion dollars were spent on agricultural subsidies across 88 countries, a report by FAO, UNDP and UNEP found in 2021. Nearly 90% went to inefficient, unfair practices that harmed the environment, according to that report.
New technologies
The report also recognises that new technologies coupled with big data and artificial intelligence have made possible innovations such as precision farming, remote sensing and drones that detect and combat land degradation in real time. Benefits likewise accrue from the precise application of water, nutrients and pesticides, along with early pest and disease detection.
It mentions the free app Plantix, available in 18 languages, that can detect nearly 700 pests and diseases on more than 80 different crops. Improved solar cookstoves can provide households with additional income sources and improve livelihoods, while reducing reliance on forest resources.
Numerous multilateral agreements on land-system change exist but have largely failed to deliver. The Glasgow Declaration to halt deforestation and land degradation by 2030 was signed by 145 countries at the Glasgow climate summit in 2021, but deforestation has increased since then.
The 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from Dec. 2 to 13, 2024, with the theme: “Our Land, Our Future”.
The COP is the main decision-making body of UNCCD’s 197 Parties – 196 countries and the European Union.
UNCCD, the global voice for land, is one of three major UN treaties known as the Rio Conventions, alongside climate and biodiversity, which recently concluded their COP meetings in Baku, Azerbaijan and Cali, Colombia respectively.
Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of UNCCD, COP16 will be the largest UN land conference to date, and the first UNCCD COP held in the Middle East and North Africa region, which knows first-hand the impacts of desertification, land degradation and drought.
According to the UN, COP16 marks a renewed global commitment to accelerate investment and action to restore land and boost drought resilience for the benefit of people and planet.
A team of stakeholders comprising journalists and civil society, who gathered from November 28 to 29, 2024, in Lagos at a media capacity building workshop on “Understanding the UN Plastic Treaty Process in Nigeria”, has called on the Federal Government to ban single-use plastic from 2025 as against the current 2028 date as contained in the proposed National Policy on Plastic Waste Management.
Participants at the media capacity building workshop on “Understanding the UN Plastic Treaty Process in Nigeria”, in Lagos
The team, which wants government to start with styrofoam, microbeads and carrier bags, claiming that they have no economic or recycling potential, is likewise clamouring for the implementation of the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management, which was adopted and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and the promulgation of appropriate regulations on plastic waste management.
The group, however, underscored the need for civil society to fill the identified gaps in the proposed National Policy on Plastic Waste Management before its final adoption by the FEC.
At the two-day training organised by the Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE), a member of the Global Alliance for Incineration Alternatives (GAIA) and Break Free From Plastics (BFFP) with the support of the Global Greengrants Fund (GGF), to address plastic pollution in Nigeria, participants resolved that the government, civil society and corporate bodies should take the lead to sensitise the general public on the public health implications of plastic waste.
“The effectiveness of the management of plastics in Nigeria requires an inclusive approach which should entail the collaboration of different stakeholders at grassroots level including community, religious and political leaders,” participants submitted in a communique, adding that science, when conducted with integrity and free from external pressures, offers the most reliable insights into the complex challenge of plastic pollution.
The communique was endorsed by Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE), Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria), Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) and Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF).
While underlining the need for referenceable disaggregated data on the quantity of plastic products being manufactured, used and imported in the country, participants called for standard operating procedures/guidelines for the plastic recycling/management sector.
“We support the adoption of the Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Sustainable Use of Plastics in Agriculture at the upcoming Committee on Agriculture of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as a policy blueprint for the use of plastics in agriculture,” they stated, calling for a Just Transition for vulnerable communities with special attention to waste pickers and workers in cooperative settings.
Participants also recommended the exploration and promotion of sustainable alternatives to plastic use including the use of rubber; capacity building engagements especially trainings for relevant stakeholders on the plastics pollution issue, with priority on the media; and sustained awareness creation on the impacts of single use plastics including use of traditional rulers and town criers in the rural localities.
They submitted that GAIA Nigeria identified various areas of intervention through which the action plan, including policy and regulation, advocacy/engagement, environmental justice and financial resources is being developed.
The forum brought together over 20 journalists across print, electronic and online media platforms to deliberate on addressing plastic pollution in Nigeria. Goodwill messages were delivered by Huub Scheele of the Global Greengrants Fund and a representative of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Mrs. Oluwakemi Bankole, Deputy Director, Natural Resources Protection Department.
Presentations were made by Anthony Akpan, Executive Director of PAVE, who spoke on “The Plastic Age”; Philip Jakpor, Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), who spoke on “The Role of the Media in Reporting Plastic Pollution”; and Victor Fabunmi, Senior Programme Officer, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev Nigeria), who made a presentation on “Emerging Plastic Bans in Africa and Nigeria”.
In his presentation, Fabunmi pointed out that, apart from enforcing bans or restrictions on single-use plastics, such as bags, straws, and cutlery, the authorities should introduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programmes, requiring producers to manage plastic waste throughout its lifecycle, as well as implement tax incentives or subsidies for industries adopting eco-friendly alternatives.
To effectively report plastic waste, Jakpor in his presentation called on participants to leave the comfort of their offices and visit flashpoints, put human faces to stories, speak with experts, emphasise interconnectedness of man and the environment, obtain and simplify statistics, ask probing questions, predict, and amplify solutions.
Akpan, on his part, notes that a Global Plastic Treaty matters because it is an avenue to unlock systemic change away from plastics at pace and scale; an opportunity to create an international framework to address plastic across its lifecycle; it can push the entire petrochemical, plastic and FMCGs (Fast Moving Consumer Goods Companies) industry to shift towards reuse and environmentally sound design; and has the potential to hold all signing countries to a high common minimum standard of action.
After extensive deliberations, the meeting noted that plastic pollution is a global menace throughout its entire lifecycle, with health and environmental implications which includes cancers, endocrine disruption, diabetes, obesity, developmental issues, reproductive dysfunction, and respiratory diseases, among others.
It also expressed concern over the fact that Africa is emerging as the receiver of plastic pollution from the Global North with dire consequences.
Besides empowering journalists as advocates to understanding the UN Plastic Treaty Process in Nigeria, the workshop was aimed at helping to transform the UN Plastic Treaty knowledge into actions for sustainability through knowledge sharing, capacity building and networking in a spirit of partnership based on values and a respect for gender equity, diversity and participatory decision-making.
The objective of the workshop was also to establish a network of journalists to further create awareness on the UN Plastics Treaty and its implementation. The Africa Zero Waste Journalist Network, Nigeria Chapter, thus emerged to galvanise journalists for sustained awareness creation on climate change, zero waste, plastics and electric vehicle batteries, among others.
As the INC-5 negotiations move closer to the finish line in Busan, Korea, environmental justice and worker organisations have joined to demand that nations refrain from including plastic credits and bonds as part of their financing commitments to address the plastic pollution crisis.
Plastic waste pollution
Fernando Tormos-Aponte of Just Transition Alliance said: “Plastic credits and bonds should not be included in the global plastic treaty because they incentivise plastic production, provide loopholes for further plastic pollution, and perpetuate the plastic pollution crisis. Plastic credits and bonds allow polluters to put a price on plastic pollution and pay to continue business as usual while claiming they’re doing something to stop pollution. Funding to address the plastic pollution crisis must be public, direct, and grant-based. The plastics treaty must finance a just transition.”
Adrienne Aakaluk Titus of Indigenous Environmental Network said: “Plastics credits and bonds would only exacerbate the global pollution crisis and accelerate climate change. This is another false solution backed by industry and developed countries masking their intention to continue doing business as usual leaving Indigenous Peoples and frontline communities the most vulnerable and impacted. We demand a Just Transition framework that does not make sacrifices of human life and Mother Earth. It is imperative that funding be grant based for public access and distribution be direct for equity and equality in this process.”
Indumathi of International Alliance of Waste Pickers said: “We waste pickers prefer to avoid market-based mechanisms for addressing plastic pollution, as often such mechanisms privilege other stakeholders over waste pickers.”
Frankie Orona of Society of Native Nations said: “As Indigenous Peoples, we have lived in harmony with the land, air, and water for generations. We see the earth not as a resource to exploit but as a relative to protect. Plastic credits and bonds are yet another colonial mechanism that commodifies destruction, allowing corporations to profit while our territories bear the brunt of pollution.
“The world is watching the plastic treaty negotiations here in Busan. The states involved must deliver a strong, inclusive and ambitious agreement that avoids false solutions and includes clear provisions for a just transition, addressing workers’ rights, occupational safety and health, social protection, and dialogue. Without these essential references, the treaty will not be acceptable to trade unions representing millions of workers across the plastic supply chain, both formal and informal”
Repon Chowdhury of International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) said: “These financial schemes perpetuate harm to our ecosystems and communities under the guise of ‘solutions.’ True action to address the plastic crisis must centre on justice, equity, and respect for Mother Earth, with financing that is public, transparent, and rooted in the protection of human rights and Indigenous sovereignty.”
At a somewhat fractious UN Climate Conference (COP29) dominated by finance, the final agreement in Baku, Azerbaijan saw developed countries pledge to “take the lead” in raising $300 billion annually for developing countries by 2035.
Standing ovation of NCQG adoption at COP29
This is up from the $100 billion a year that was pledged in 2009. It was also agreed that developed countries would “secure efforts” to scale up finance to developing countries from public and private sources to $1.3 trillion a year by 2035.
“COP29 has now secured a foundation on which we must now rapidly build. However, we must be clear, ambition and promises are only as good as the action and delivery that backs them up,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “We therefore need to see more transparent, inclusive progress on finance, on mitigation and on adaptation.”
According to the 2024 edition of the Emissions Gap Report, released in the lead up to COP29, countries must cut emissions by 42 per cent by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Yet current climate plans would see an increase of 2.6°C to 3.1°C this century, a rise that would be disastrous for the planet.
However, countries were not able to agree on how the outcomes of last year’s global stocktake, including the pledge to transition away from fossil fuels, should be moved forward – and instead pushed the decision to next year’s COP30 in Brazil.
A number of countries submitted their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – their climate plans up to 2035 – ahead of next year’s deadline.
There was progress in other areas including on Article 6, with countries signing off on rules that will create an international carbon trading system, which experts say can help countries meet their emissions targets if rules are strictly enforced.
Away from the main negotiations, there was progress on other issues. The Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action was launched, and this UNEP-hosted initiative aims to strengthen the water dimension within the global climate agenda in the coming years.
Ministers and leaders from more than 30 countries also reaffirmed their commitment to the Global Cooling Pledge which was launched at COP28 last year and aims to reduce cooling-related emissions by 68 per cent by 2050.
There was some progress on methane emissions, with countries representing nearly 50 per cent of global methane emissions from organic waste pledging to reduce emissions from the sector.
Despite commitments under the Global Methane Pledge to slash emissions 30 per cent by 2030, An Eye on Methane: Invisible but not unseen launched in Baku revealed that action had not kept pace with commitments, even as the data is more accessible than ever.
COP29 also saw the Eye on Methane data platform launched, with the aim of providing transparent, actionable emissions data to fossil fuel companies and governments.
COP29 saw nearly 70,000 world leaders, negotiators, observers and activists descend on Baku, making it the second biggest COP in history after COP28 in Dubai last year. Hundreds of side-events also took place in the margins of the main negotiations.
“Next, all eyes turn to the NDC 3.0 February deadline. All member states must now stretch ambition to ensure we can live up to the 1.5°C promise,” Andersen said. “The NDC plans can unleash a wave of resilient economic growth, new jobs and address cost of living challenges,” she added.
Minister for Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has tasked local communities in Nigeria to take ownership of their own sanitation agenda.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev
The minister gave the task on Saturday, November 30, 2024, in Jahun, Jigawa State, at the commissioning of ultramodern toilet facilities by the Jigawa State Government.
The event was organised in commemoration of the World Toilet Day.
Represented by the Director, Water, Sanitation and Policy of the ministry, Mr. Olu Daniels, the minister said communities need to be fully engaged towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to him, Jigawa is a beacon of hope for Open Defecation Campaign, “so I appeal to other states to consider it a model and emulate.”
In his remarks, Gov. Umar Namadi commended the federal government as well as development partners for their support in enforcing sanitation in the state.
The governor, who was represented by the Speaker, Jigawa House of Assembly, Mr Haruna Dangyatun, reiterated the administration’s commitment to maintaining open defecation free state.
He, however, expressed readiness of his administration to construct toilet facilities in markets and motor parks across the state towards maintaining a healthy state.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Ibrahim Garba-Hannungiwa, stressed the need for collective responsibility for more mobilisation to achieve the set target of sanitation.
He explained that traditional and religious leaders have a critical role to play, in view of their position in the society.
Garba-Hannungiwa announced that, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Jigawa has developed a strategy document for the attainment of safely managed sanitation by 2027.
He, therefore, tasked local government councils and agencies saddled with the responsibility to fast-track the process, to increase access to basic sanitation services.
The Provost, School of Health Technology, Jahun, Mr Abdullahi Abubakar, commended the state government for the project, noting that it would improve sanitation in the benefitting schools.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), Mr Abubakar Sidi, said sanitation improves girls enrolment in tertiary institutions.
He explained that adolescent girls feel safe in a clean environment, “and therefore, are comfortably coming to school.”
The MD appealed to Jigawa residents to sustain the open defecation free title bestowed on the state for its open defecation campaign.
Sidi also highlighted the significance of World Toilet Day commemoration, noting that it promotes the culture of toilet facility usage.
He appealed to students to properly utilise the ultramodern toilet facilities provided in their schools, to sustain personal and environmental hygiene.
Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Wole Ogunsanya, has called for the privatisation of Nigeria’s oil and gas pipelines.
Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Wole Ogunsanya
He described it as a “commonwealth solution” to ensure the efficiency and sustainability of the nation’s critical oil and gas industry.
Ogunsanya said this in a statement on Saturday, November 30, 2024, after the just concluded Nigeria International Pipeline and Security Conference (NIPITECS) held in Abuja.
He explained that the “commonwealth solution” offers an opportunity for private investors to hold 51 per cent ownership of the nation’s pipelines.
Ogunsanya said oil producers, including NNPC Ltd. and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) would then serve as shareholders.
He said that this model has been successful in the case of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) project, which remains a pillar of the industry.
He pointed out that there was room for further improvement, including the establishment of more LNG facilities and an increase in gas feedstock production.
“Globally, the life expectancy of populations is greatly impacted by energy security, which ensures the availability of healthcare, infrastructure, affordable food, housing, and education,.
“With Nigeria’s life expectancy at 54.46 years (2023 UN Data), it highlights a critical lack of energy security, and by extension, a deficiency in essential services for the majority of Nigerians,” Ogunsanya said.
He emphasised that oil and gas remains the catalyst for Nigeria’s economic growth, urging more capacity building across the value chain; exploration, production, refining, transportation and downstream.
Ogunsanya said that developing in-country capacity will position Nigeria as one of the top 20 economies in the world.
He decried the lack of effective use of proceeds from crude oil sales over the years to develop the country.
He, however, commended indigenous companies, particularly those in professional associations, for driving local content, building capacity and creating jobs.
“These efforts have a multiplier effect, benefiting both the oil and gas value chain and the regional economy.”
Ogunsanya also recognised the importance of the Petroleum Pipeline and Storage Company (PLAN), which plays a crucial role in transporting oil and gas to refineries, gas plants, and power stations.
During a panel discussion on the topic “Pipeline System for Nigeria’s Decade of Gas: Challenges and Opportunities”, Ogunsanya emphasised the need for Nigeria to utilise all available energy sources to close the energy gap.
He acknowledged the growing use of solar energy across the country, urging stakeholders to invest in local solar technology rather than rely on imports.
While noting that the demand for oil and gas may not grow at the same rate as in the past, he reaffirmed that these resources remain essential for the development of emerging economies.
Ogunsanya pledged PETAN’s continued support for advocacy efforts on the critical role of pipelines in the oil and gas sector.
