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Ministerial Declaration at UNEA-7 Signals Global Shift to Zero Waste

“Recognising Zero Waste at UNEA-7 signals a future where prevention, reuse, and non-toxic circular systems replace disposal-driven approaches to waste management.” 
 Ledoner Okeyo, Project Assistant, CEJAD
 Ledoner Okeyo, Project Assistant, CEJAD

I had the opportunity to participate in the Seventh Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), which, to me, was a moment that underscored both the urgency in the global waste crisis and the growing will globally to address it differently. Among the most significant outcomes was the recognition of Zero Waste in the Ministerial Declaration, a milestone that signals a shift away from disposal-driven approaches toward prevention, reuse, and non-toxic circular systems. For the first time at this level, ministers collectively acknowledged that the waste crisis cannot be solved through downstream solutions alone, such as landfilling. Instead, it requires a systematic shift toward preventing waste at source, promoting reuse, refill and recycling and redesigning products to eliminate altogether.

This recognition is more than symbolic. It reflects a growing understanding among governments that waste is not only an environmental issue but also a public health, climate, social justice, and economic challenge. Poor waste management continues to pollute air, land and water, disproportionately affecting low-income communities, informal settlements and waste workers. By elevating  Zero Waste in the Ministerial Declaration, UNEA 7 sends a strong signal that sustainable waste management must be inclusive, preventive and people-centred.

What needs to be done

To ensure that the recognition of Zero Waste at UNEA 7 leads to real impact, it is critical for countries to:

  1. Embed  Zero Waste in national policies and laws. Zero Waste targets should be integrated into national waste management, climate, and development plans, along with measurable indicators and accountability mechanisms.
  2. Support inclusive waste governance. Waste pickers must be formally recognised as key stakeholders. Their participation in policy design and implementation is essential for effective and equitable systems.
  3. Redirect investments toward prevention and reuse. Public and private investments should prioritise waste reduction, reuse and recycling infrastructure, rather than disposal-focused technologies.
  4. Align  Zero Waste with ongoing negotiations under the Global Plastic Treaty and national climate commitments, given its role in reducing emissions and pollution.

 A moment of Possibility.

UNEA-7 has created a crucial policy opening. While the inclusion of  Zero Waste at the Ministerial Declaration is a major achievement, the real test lies in the implementation. This recognition should translate into practical, locally grounded solutions that protect ecosystems, create dignified livelihoods, and build healthier, more resilient communities.

The path to  Zero Waste is not abstract. It is already being paved by communities, waste workers, and local governments around the world. Global declarations alone do not clean rivers, reduce plastic pollution or improve the lives of the people. The focus must now shift from commitment to Action.

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Under this program, CEJAD aims to eliminate the risk posed by exposure to lead in paints to women and children, and improve the regulatory frameworks to phase out lead in paint at national, regional and international level.

Our work under this program aims to promote the phase out of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) from use, especially in agriculture to protect human health and the environment. The use of HHPs is threatening the lives of vulnerable populations, food systems, biodiversity and the environment at large.

Our work under the Mercury Program aims to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds in line with the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a legally binding global treaty adopted in 2013. Kenya is a party to the Minamata Convention.

The Montreal Protocol, adopted in 1987, protects the ozone layer by regulating ozone-depleting substances (ODS), such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). It mandates the phase-out of CFC and HCFC production and consumption with specific timeframes for different Parties, based on their status as a developed or developing country.

Our work under this program aims to reduce the health and environmental impacts associated with waste and plastics throughout their life cycle. Over the years, plastic and plastic products have emerged as problematic and hazardous to human health and the environment.