Every year, the world produces approximately 300 million tonnes of plastic waste, yet only about 9% of it is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, natural environments, and oceans, where it breaks down into microplastics ,tiny particles that infiltrate our food chains, freshwater systems, and marine environments, posing serious threats to human health and ecosystems.

As the world prepares for the 2025 World Environment Day, themed “Ending Plastic Pollution”, the Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD), in collaboration with the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD), convened a unique three-day regional conference in Mombasa, Kenya.

Officially opened on May 26th by Eng. Dr. Festus Ngeno, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Environment and Climate Change, the conference explored the key intersection between plastic pollution governance and democratic institutions.

 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.