Over the past decade, plastic production and consumption have increased to unprecedented levels globally, pushing the planet beyond its boundaries. While various measures have been taken to curb plastic pollution, including Kenya’s commendable ban on plastic bags, the environmental burden of plastics remains high, with poor countries bearing the brunt of both health and environmental crises.
The reality is that, without a collective global action, the scale and severity of plastic pollution will intensify, compromising both human health and the environment. According to statistics, plastic production is projected to increase by 40% in the next decade. Today, plastic pollution stands as one of the gravest environmental threats of our time. As UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said during the Busan talks (INC-5.1), “The world’s commitment to ending plastic pollution is clear and undeniable.”
But commitment must now be translated into action. We are at a critical juncture. The final treaty must reflect the urgency of the moment and the magnitude of the crisis.
Recognizing this, the global community took a bold step at the Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5) in March 2022 by adopting a historic resolution to end plastic pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement. The resolution, UNEA 5/14, mandates the creation of an instrument through an International Negotiating Committee (INC), taking a full lifecycle approach from plastic production, use, and disposal.
Three years and five negotiation rounds later, progress has been slow due to the influence of political interests, industry resistance, and divergent national interests. The upcoming African Regional Consultation in Nairobi and the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN 20), which will be held in Nairobi from 14-18 July 2025 ahead of the resumed INC-5.2 session, are pivotal moments for Kenya and Africa at large to shape the treaty’s direction with urgency and ambition.
As the host nation of UNEP and a frontline actor in the battle against plastic pollution, Kenya must take the lead in driving an African convergence that champions bold measures, starting with counties’ commitments and actions in reducing plastic production & securing a robust financial mechanism to effectively support the treaty’s implementation. Kenya can lead Africa in shaping a progressive and united regional position by championing binding commitments and ensuring that frontline communities, waste pickers, and civil society voices are heard, integrated, and respected throughout this process.
Plastic pollution is not only an environmental issue but also a public health emergency. Research by the Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD) in collaboration with the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) has revealed alarming levels of toxic chemicals in everyday plastic products, including children’s toys.
Another study by IPEN and Arnika found out hair accessories and kitchen utensils are affected by unregulated recycling of waste plastics that carry brominated flame retardants into new products. Contamination of toys is worrying for children who often put them in their mouths, ingesting contaminated plastic pellets.
Despite mounting scientific evidence, health remains a contested issue in treaty negotiations. Some countries continue to question whether health should be directly addressed in the treaty’s scope. Based on scientific evidence, a robust global plastics treaty must not only include a dedicated health clause but also mainstream health protections throughout its text.
Inclusivity and fairness need to guide the treaty, and producers need to be held accountable. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems must be enshrined in the treaty and implemented inclusively. Waste pickers play a vital role, yet they remain undervalued in their role in mitigating the impacts of plastic pollution. They must be compensated fairly, protected by labor laws, and fully integrated into formal waste management systems.
Africa must remain united in demanding a legally binding global plastics treaty that is safe, inclusive, and sustainable. Such a treaty must address the full cycle of plastics from extraction to disposal. Create a framework for producer responsibility and a finance mechanism to support effective implementation, set time-bound targets and binding rules to phase out harmful plastics and ban the manufacture and marketing of plastics with toxic additives or those that cannot be safely reused or recycled, and ensure inclusive participation of civil society, indigenous communities, youth, and waste pickers in decision-making and implementation.
Looking at global waste produced, and the amount recycled, it is no longer enough to focus on recycling or waste management alone but on addressing the root of the crisis, which is the unsustainable and growing volume of plastic being produced.
With the final leg of negotiations just a few months away, the goal should be to have a plastic treaty that prioritizes people over profit and health over convenience.
Patricia Kombo is a Communications Officer at the Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD).
