The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), in collaboration with the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and the Center for Environmental Justice and Development (CEJAD), is organizing a two-day workshop (from 17-18 April 2023) in Kigali to support Africa to develop a common position for the upcoming negotiations to develop a global plastics treaty.

The workshop brought together delegates from African countries to develop priorities and strategies for the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument to End Plastic Pollution, which will be held in Paris, France at the end of May.

The workshop will develop shared priorities and strategies on key substantive and implementation elements, and identify materials to assist African delegates during the negotiations at INC-2. 

The meeting is being attended by representatives from across Africa that have been actively engaged in discussions at relevant fora, including the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), and INC-1. Representatives from France, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, SEychelles, Tanzania and Uganda are attending the workshop.

"Plastic pollution is a planetary crisis with impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, climate, and human health. This workshop provides an opportunity for African countries to come together and develop a unified approach to tackling this global challenge," said Julet Kabera, Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority.

Apart from developing a common position for the upcoming negotiations to develop a global plastics treaty, participants will this afternoon have an opportunity to visit one of the plastic waste collection point managed by Enviroserve Rwanda, to learn more about effective practices being implemented in Rwanda to manage plastic waste.

Plastic consumption has quadrupled over the past 30 years. Without action, plastic pollution is set to double over the next 20 years, and triple by 2060. In Africa, plastic pollution remains a significant challenge for many nations. 
An ambitious global treaty to end plastic pollution can create well-paying green jobs on the continent by attracting greater investment in circular businesses and facilitating the adoption of new technologies in plastic production and waste management.

About the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA)

REMA is a government institution responsible for the protection, conservation, and management of the environment in Rwanda. REMA's mission is to promote and enable sustainable development through the protection, conservation, and sustainable use of environmental resources, guided by the principles of good governance, social equity, and economic efficiency. 

For more information, visit www.rema.gov.rw