IGAD pushes regional action to tackle plastic pollution

Employees load a sack of plastic bottles onto a bus after collection from a dump site in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, on October 31, 2022. (Photo: REUTERS/Seun Sanni)

By Rachael Mutabasi
Saturday, July 4, 2026

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Global plastic production has increased from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 414 million metric tons in 2023 and is projected to reach 736 million metric tons by 2030.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has renewed calls for coordinated action to tackle plastic pollution, highlighting its Regional Plastic Pollution Prevention Strategy and Implementation Plan (2026–2035) as a framework to guide member states in addressing growing environmental, health and climate challenges associated with plastic waste.

According to the strategy, global plastic production has increased from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 414 million metric tons in 2023 and is projected to reach 736 million metric tons by 2030.

While plastics play a critical role in the global economy, IGAD notes that "plastic products are widely used in packaging, agriculture, and health sectors, and support the livelihoods of poor communities, especially women and youth".

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The document also highlights growing public health concerns, stating that "Plastic products break down into microplastics (<5 mm) and nanoplastics (<1 mm), which have been identified in the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the food we eat". It further notes that the particles have been found in the human digestive tract, lungs, blood and placenta and "have been linked to diseases such as cancer."

According to IGAD, Africa produces about 17 million tons of plastic annually, representing about 5 per cent of global production, but continues to experience significant plastic pollution due to poor waste management and the widespread use of single-use plastics.

An inventory of chemicals and plastic pollutants conducted in Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia and Sudan found that plastic pollution was a major problem across the four coastal IGAD member states.

The assessment found plastics accounted for more than 70 per cent of waste along the coastline on average and recommended the development of a regional strategy and action plan based on a Circular Economy Model.

The regional bloc is also encouraging member states to domesticate the framework through national strategies and action plans to reduce plastic pollution and safeguard the environment for future generations.