The launch of the multi-stakeholder partnership to eliminate open burning of waste in Africa was anchored in 18th African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) Resolution: Towards phasing out open burning of waste in Africa. The resolution was adopted by 54 African Ministers, a global first, speaking to not only the challenge of open burning of waste but also acknowledging the solutions and opportunities in eliminating this practice by 2050.
The resolution highlighted the key actions that need to be taken by national and local governments, civil societies and development partners and called for the launch of a multi-stakeholder partnership to tackle the elimination of open waste burning at COP 27. The rallying call to eliminate open burning in Africa by the year 2040 was encapsulated in the Marrakech partnership Global Climate Action Sharm El Sheik Adaptation Agenda under the human settlement impact system with the adaptation outcome committing ‘to increased use of waste as a secondary resource boosts the livelihoods of informal workers and reduces open waste burning by 60%, lowering pollution levels and improving the health of local communities and elimination of open burning of waste by the year 2050’.
Launch of the multi stakeholder partnership at COP 27, Egypt
The resolution led to the launch of the Multi Stakeholder Partnership following a solutions roundtable at COP27 in Egypt in November 2022. The partnership was officially launched by the President of African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) and the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Senegal in the presence of the representatives of strategic partners and local governments.
“We now have momentum and commitment from politicians, civil society, private sector and development partners to deal with a growing hazard for African people, cities and the environment,”
Professor Desta Mebratu, former Waste Management Lead, Engineering X and UN High Level Climate Champions
Core strategic partners
| Co-Chairs |
|
| Partners |
|
| Strategic Secretariats |
|
“We are committed to creating a sustainable society and inclusive economy that works for everyone. As a founding partner of Engineering X, we are pleased to highlight the important and under-reported issue of open burning of waste and its global impact on health and the environment”
Sir Jim McDonald FREng FRSE, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering