It involves maximising the social and economic opportunities of ending plastic pollution while minimising and carefully managing any challenges
Ayub Macharia, representative of the Kenyan delegation in INC, announcing Just Transition Initiative at the INC. Photo: IAW. Kenya and South Africa have announced an initiative to end plastic pollution in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible to everyone concerned.
The Just Transition initiative, launched in the aftermath of negotiations on a global treaty to end plastic pollution, aims to create decent work opportunities for waste-pickers and other workers in the plastic value chain.
Also read: Life of Plastic: DTE’s coverage of the UN summit in Uruguay
The first Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to phase out plastic was held in Uruguay from November 28 to December 2, 2022.
The Just Transition initiative “seeks to foster the element of a just transition within the letter and spirit of the proposed legally binding instrument,” announced Ayub Macharia, representative of the Kenyan delegation at the INC session.
In Macharia’s words, the legally binding instrument ensures the spirit of leaving no one behind. The Just Transition initiative was welcomed by waste pickers present at the INC.
Meanwhile, Maddie Koena, the South African member of the delegation of the International Alliance of Waste Pickers (IAW), asserted the need for the concerned countries to design the plastic treaty with livelihoods and human rights in mind.
IAW is a networking process that connects and supports thousands of waste picker organisations in over 28 countries.
Also read: Life of Plastic: Uruguay meet concludes; implicitly endorses CSE’s position on polymer pollution
It’s been good this week to see such widespread recognition of the vital role we waste pickers play. Now countries need to design the treaty with our livelihoods and human rights in mind, said Koena.
“I’m very pleased to see my country, South Africa, leading the way on this, alongside Kenya, by launching the Just Transition Initiative as a joint initiative with the International Alliance of Waste pickers (IAW) and other stakeholders,” added Koena.
A just transition, according to waste pickers, is based on making visible those already working at all stages of the plastic value chain, including workers under informal and cooperative settings and recognising their fundamental human dignity and historic contribution.
It involves maximising the social and economic opportunities of ending plastic pollution while minimising and carefully managing any challenges.
A plan for a just transition will guarantee better and decent work, social protection, training opportunities and greater job security for workers at all stages of the plastic value chain.
Following the announcement of the initiative, Barbra Weber, a waste picker from USA, intervened.
She demanded a Just Transition, not only for those who collect and process plastics but also for those who live and work amidst the pollution from plastics production and management.
This requires direct funding for our communities, appropriate technology transfer and decent and safe work in reuse, repair and mechanical recycling, she said in her speech.
Barbra said:
We reject false solutions like incineration and pyrolysis and demand that the petrochemical companies immediately phase toxic chemicals out of plastics production and recycling, eliminate non-recyclable plastics and ensure that all materials have value.
“Our interpretation of a Just Transition is clear: Guaranteeing that waste pickers can remain and advance in value chains, improving our working conditions and ongoing investment in our work,” said Soledad Mella Vidal, a waste picker from Chile.
A submission on modalities informed by the Just Transition Initiative will be developed in consultation with the IAW and will be finalised in the next few months before the next INC, said Mamogala Musekene, South African government representative and chair of the Group of Friends of Waste-pickers.
The Group of Friends of Waste-pickers is a platform to hear waste pickers’ concerns in the negotiations.
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