Why global plastic treaty will borrow heavily from Kenya

Experts working on a global plastic ban treaty will meet anytime beginning June this year, according to various sources within the Unep. 

They will present a final version of the treaty by 2024 for members of the United Nations to adopt.

Countries will be looking to borrow from Kenya, which has the strictest plastic bag ban in the world – with fines of up to Sh4 million or up to four years in jail.

Most targeted are single-use plastics. This will extend to more products still in use in Kenya, such as soda straws and food wrappers.

Environment PS Chris Kiptoo said Kenya will be pushing for a tough treaty.

“We started banning single-use plastics in 2017, and we extended them to other protected areas. We are now keen to ensure we eliminate it,” he said.

On Wednesday, Unep members adopted the resolution, titled "End plastic pollution: Towards an internationally legally binding instrument."

They agreed that an international team will be formed to draft a full treaty that can be implemented from 2024.

Inger Andersen, head of the UNEP, said the treaty should track the lifespan of plastic products—from source to sea—and should be legally binding.

“There will be dimensions of access to technology, we will deal with scientific and technical cooperation. But the bottom line is we will eliminate plastic pollution from our environment,” she said.

A mechanism for providing policy-relevant scientific information and assessment as well as the one for providing financial support to the treaty implementation will be considered.

Others set to be considered include national and international cooperative measures, national action plans and reporting towards the prevention, reduction and elimination of plastic pollution and how the treaty will be implemented.

UN deputy secretary general Amina J Mohammed  said, “Today, no area on the planet is left untouched by plastic pollution, from deep-sea sediment to Mount Everest. The planet deserves a multilateral solution  that speaks from source to sea. A legally binding global agreement on plastic pollution will be a truly welcome first step.”

A second resolution supports the establishment of a comprehensive and ambitious science policy panel on the sound management of chemicals and waste and preventing pollution.

The Ministerial Declaration recognises humanity’s failure to manage chemicals and waste.

Environment CS Keriako Tobiko could not hide his joy following the adoption of the resolutions.

"What we have witnessed today gives us tears of joy, not only the resolution to end plastic pollution but all the resolutions that will make the world a better place for future generations," Tobiko said.

The Sixth Session of the UN Environment Assembly will be held at Unep headquarters in Nairobi from February 26 to March 1, 2024.

-Edited by SKanyara