Mercury pollution from Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in Kenya is causing widespread ecological harm, threatening biodiversity, food security, and public health. The use of mercury in gold extraction contaminates soil and water, leading to toxic methylmercury buildup in aquatic ecosystems, which bioaccumulates through the food chain and disrupts entire ecosystems. Counties like Migori, Siaya, and Kakamega are among those most affected. Despite being a signatory to the Minamata Convention, Kenya lacks robust regulations to control mercury use in ASGM. To protect ecological resilience and meet global biodiversity targets, there is an urgent need for policies that phase out mercury use, promote safer mining alternatives, and support miners through technical and financial assistance.

Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD), in partnership with the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD) and with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), is hosting a regional conference exploring the link between plastic governance and democratic institutions.

A Just Transition to an environmentally sustainable economy involves inclusive and fair strategies for shifting to sustainable plastic production and consumption, ensuring no one, especially waste pickers and informal workers, is left behind

Since the adoption of the Vienna Convention 40 years ago, significant progress has been made in restoring the ozone layer. The convention established a framework for international cooperation to address the effects of human activities on the ozone layer. 

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are toxic compounds that remain in the environment for long periods and accumulate in the food chain. They include dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), brominated flame retardants, and other POPs listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. These chemicals pose serious risks to human health, such as cancer, thyroid dysfunction, and reproductive problems

 Libreville, Gabon—On Wednesday 22nd January 2025, Ministers adopted a declaration calling for the elimination of mercury-added skin-lightening products. Non-government organizations from Africa and across the globe applauded the Ministers' high level call to zero out mercury in skin whitening products. 

As the world prepares to commemorate the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action, CEJAD and other members of the Multisectoral Committee on Sound Chemicals Management are planning for the awareness week together with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)- MCGL

September 21, 2024, marked as World Coastal Cleanup Day— is a global effort aimed at removing
trash from aquatic environments to reduce environmental pollution. To commemorate this day, CEJAD
joined hands with numerous organizations as part of the International Coastal Cleanup Committee, Kenya
Chapter, to coordinate and collaborate on this initiative.

CEJAD recently participated in a training workshop held on August 13-14, 2024, in Arusha, Tanzania. The workshop brought together key stakeholders to kick off a study on pesticide poisonings, a critical component of the ongoing Pesticide Suicide Prevention project in collaboration with the Tanzanian government.

Often, we don't consider what happens to our waste after we dispose. Waste pickers are the ones at the forefront of waste management making sure that the waste we dispose of is repurposed and recycled, yet their contribution always goes unnoticed or unmentioned.