Nairobi pushes bold plastics treaty, fairer global green agenda

Plastic dumped in Homa Bay Town on June 5, 2025. (James Omoro, Standard)

Kenya is reclaiming its leadership on the global plastics treaty and circular economy, using Nairobi, the birthplace of the treaty mandate, to put stalled negotiations on the right track.

At UNEA-7, the government is positioning itself as Africa’s lead voice on plastics diplomacy, anchored by strong domestic policies and a strategic message: The world cannot fix plastic pollution without addressing production, design and equity.

Kenya will co-host a high-level event tomorrow with the Global Green Growth Institute titled “Bridging Divides, Building Solutions: Global Cooperation for a Circular Economy.”

Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa said the moment aims to “accelerate global action to end plastic pollution,” describing Nairobi as “a strategic opportunity to reflect on progress and identify pathways for collaborative solutions.”

Kenya’s position carries weight. The 2017 plastic bag ban shifted consumer behaviour across the country.

Extended Producer Responsibility rules now require companies to track and recycle what they produce. A national circular economy roadmap is shaping investments in recycling, redesign and waste-to-value enterprises.

These policies give Kenya credibility as it pushes for a plastics treaty that regulates polymers, toxic additives, and product standards, not just end-of-life waste.

UNEP data indicates that plastic production has reached 430 million tonnes annually, with projections showing a tripling by 2060. Only 9 per cent is recycled. African negotiators warn that without upstream controls, the continent risks becoming a dumping ground.

Dr Barasa cautions that global rules must not “shift burdens to developing countries,” saying solutions must be “fair, just, practical and leave no one behind.”

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen urged delegates to summon the “Nairobi Spirit,” reminding them that despite “turbulent geopolitical waters,” UNEA-7 must “deliver sustainable solutions for a resilient planet” and restore ambition on plastics, chemicals and waste management.

Her remarks hint at growing geopolitical fractures that have slowed progress at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee.

Kenya is also advancing other priorities that reinforce its broader environmental leadership. The country is pushing for a fair multilateral system where youth, women, Indigenous groups and marginalised communities shape decisions.

Barasa insists these groups must have “real power,” not ceremonial inclusion.

The country argues that environmental governance must reflect the lived experiences of those who manage waste, restore forests and shield ecosystems from climate shocks.

Kenya wants UNEA resolutions to mandate structured participation, stronger funding models, and community-led implementation.

This push reflects Kenya’s own landscape. Women in Nairobi’s informal recycling sector process much of the city’s plastic waste.

Youth innovators in Kisumu and Mombasa are building recycling start-ups. Indigenous communities in Ogiek and Embobut forests remain key custodians of biodiversity. Kenya wants the international system to acknowledge and support these actors with finance and technology transfer.

Kenya is also making a strong bet on nature-based solutions and climate resilience. The government wants UNEP’s next Medium-Term Strategy (2026–2029) to embed adaptation, land restoration and pollution control at its core.

Barasa said Kenya will contribute “constructively” to ensure the strategy is “ambitious, science-based, and equitable” and that it offers opportunities “especially for developing countries.”

Climate pressures justify this stance. Kenya has endured recurrent droughts, shrinking water sources, deforestation and land degradation.

Communities in arid counties depend on water harvesting, rangeland restoration and agroforestry to survive climate extremes.

UNEP’s upcoming Global Environment Outlook 7 shows that investments in nature increase GDP, reduce hunger and strengthen community resilience — data that supports Kenya’s argument for scaling nature-based solutions.

Andersen referenced “important advances on adaptation and deforestation” at COP30 in Belém, urging UNEA to build on that momentum to drive “stronger, faster, more joined-up action” across environmental challenges. Kenya sees UNEA-7 as the moment to turn that momentum into policy.

Kenya is also advancing multilateral coherence across global environmental agreements. Fragmented rules make compliance difficult for developing countries.

Kenya supports UNEP’s efforts to align UNEA resolutions with biodiversity, chemicals and ocean treaties.

This approach can reduce duplication, strengthen monitoring, and free resources for implementation. It also positions Kenya as a diplomatic bridge between different parts of the global environmental system.

To ground these priorities, Kenya is showcasing domestic innovations at UNEA exhibitions. Delegates can explore clean-cooking technologies, plastic-to-brick products, renewable energy solutions and land-restoration models.

Barasa encouraged participants to visit these displays, saying they show “Kenya’s innovations, cultural diversity, and the strengths of our various sectors.”