By Bridget Onochie
The ECOWAS Parliament Joint Committee has urged member states to take immediate action on plastic waste management, warning that the region could become the largest contributor to poorly managed plastic waste globally by 2050 if measures are not taken.
“The success stories shared by various stakeholders and experts have provided us with practical insight and inspiration to adopt in the different member states of ECOWAS and scale these initiatives within our respective communities,” said Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, 3rd Deputy Speaker and host of the meeting.
The committee’s recommendations include harmonizing regulations on plastic waste treatment, designing policies to raise awareness about the dangers of plastic waste, and creating funds dedicated to organizing a circular economy for plastic waste treatment.
Koffi Bernard, Director of Environment and Climate Change at the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized the urgency of the issue, stating, “Africa is estimated to be the second-largest source of plastic pollution in oceans from rivers, contributing to about 7.8 per cent, and could become the largest contributor to poorly managed plastic waste globally by 2050 if measures are not taken to address the issue.”
The committee’s report also recommends that the ECOWAS Authority instruct governments to implement Regulation C/REG.17/23, which aims to harmonize plastic products and promote environmentally sound plastic management in the region.
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, led the meeting, which aimed to create awareness on ECOWAS strategies towards environmental friendliness and effective plastic waste management.
The meeting concluded with a call to action for member states to adopt provisions aimed at effective implementation of existing regulations on plastic products’ harmonization and environmentally sound plastic waste management.