Rédaction Africa Links 24 with NewDawn
Published on 2024-02-27 09:35:45
The 6th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) meeting kicked off with a call to action against the climate and plastics crises fueled by fossil fuels. Environmental experts and advocates gathered to demand decisive action to address these pressing issues.
Hellen Kahaso Dena, the Project Lead of the Pan-Africa Plastics Project at Greenpeace Africa, highlighted the urgent need for a robust Global Plastics Treaty. She emphasized the interconnectedness of the plastic crisis with the fossil fuel industry and urged member states to prioritize ending the corporate addiction to plastic as a crucial step in combating climate change, pollution, and protecting communities.
Amos Wemanya, Senior Advisor for Renewable Energy and Just Transitions at Powershift Africa, underscored the harmful impact of fossil fuels on the climate. Despite decades of coal, oil, and gas extraction, millions of Africans still lack access to power. Wemanya called for an immediate end to the era of fossil fuels to prevent catastrophic climate change and urged member states to commit to a rapid and just transition to renewable energy sources.
Seble Samuel, Head of Africa Campaigns and Advocacy for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, advocated for the adoption of an international treaty to phase out fossil fuels equitably and transition to distributed renewable energy systems. Samuel emphasized the need for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty alongside a Global Plastics Treaty to address the root cause of both crises – fossil fuels.
Plastic production is closely linked to the fossil fuel industry through the extraction and processing of petrochemicals, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. As global fossil fuel demand declines, the industry is relying on plastics as a lifeline, further accelerating the climate emergency. Greenpeace Africa, Powershift Africa, and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative urged UNEA-6 member states to adopt comprehensive and binding treaties that address plastic production and disposal as well as the phase-out of fossil fuel production for a transition to sustainable energy sources.
The organizations urged member states to endorse and implement international treaties that support a just transition towards renewable energy, diversify economies, deploy renewables, and prioritize finance, technology, justice, and equity. By committing to these actions, member states can work towards a sustainable future that mitigates the climate and plastics crises.
For more information, contact Ferdinand Omondi at Greenpeace Africa and Viviana Varin at the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. The call to action from African Media Agency (AMA) emphasized the urgency of addressing the interconnected challenges of plastics and climate change through international frameworks and cooperation.
Read the original article on The Newdawn Liberia
