World Environment Day: Ivory Coast host, Africa Development Bank urges collective action to end plastic pollution | African Development Bank

Ivory Coast hosted the 50^e anniversary of World Environment Day on the 5^e of June 2023, with the African Development Bank as the core partner for the annual event.

This year, the Bank organized the commemoration together with the Ivorian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Netherlands.

Under the theme of ‘Solutions to plastic pollution’, the event brought together more than 300 people to discuss why Africa should switch to the circular economy and what the opportunities are.

Jean-Luc Assi, Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development of Ivory Coast, reiterated her country’s ban on the production, import and marketing, possession and use of plastic bags. He said the ban has encouraged companies to switch to reusable and biodegradable packaging.

“They are encouraged. So let’s all be aware of the need to combat plastic pollution. Let’s take action now and all say: stop plastic pollution,” Minister Assi stressed.

Inger Andersen, UNEP’s executive director, said working together to end plastic pollution is a great opportunity, especially for developing countries.

She said: “If we act in unison, we can eliminate plastic pollution by 2040. Reducing social, environmental and human health costs. Creating millions of thousands of new jobs, mainly in developing countries, and new markets and business opportunities.”

Kevin Kariuki, African Development Bank Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, urged collective efforts to find workable solutions to sustainably address plastic pollution, “one of the most pressing global environmental problems of our time” .

He said the African Development Bank, as a driver of Africa’s development agenda, is well positioned to promote initiatives against the continent’s environmental challenges.

The Bank implements programs and special initiatives that contribute to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Two of them are the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) and the Africa Circular Economy Facility (ACEF), which aim to promote circularity and good management of waste – including plastic – in Africa.

During a panel, Rose Mwebaza, director of UNEP’s Africa Office, noted that there is no one solution to the plastic pollution crisis.

“The good news is that all the necessary technological solutions have already been invented, with a wave of innovative companies and forward-thinking governments joining forces to make plastic pollution a thing of the past,” she said.

The African Development Bank led the organization of the Forum of Solutions to Plastic Pollution to help companies put a stop to plastic pollution in Africa.

“The solutions already exist,” says Al Hamndou Dorsouma, the Bank’s Climate and Green Growth Manager. “We have no excuses! Africa must switch to a circular economy. The future is circular.”