The African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-19) has ended, showcasing a mutual dedication to united efforts and reinforced cooperation in confronting environmental issues throughout Africa.

The conference emphasized concrete measures to actualise AMCEN's resolutions and effectively address the continent's environmental challenges.

The 19th ordinary session convened from August 14th to 18th in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, brought together representatives from 51 African nations alongside international partners and stakeholders.

The aim was to strategize on effective ways to harness opportunities and foster cooperation for sustainable development on the continent.

Under the theme of AMCEN-19, "Seizing Opportunities and Enhancing Collaboration to Address Environmental Challenges in Africa," delegates engaged in constructive dialogues and crafted strategies to harmonize efforts, tackling challenges while also capitalizing on emerging prospects.

Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen, highlighted the vital role of AMCEN in driving collective environmental and climate action across the continent.

He emphasized that AMCEN empowers African countries to present a united voice on the global diplomatic stage, underlining that a sustainable solution requires enhanced global partnership.

The President of AMCEN and Ethiopia’s Minister for Planning and Development, Fitsum Assefa Adela noted that the session unfolded at a pivotal moment as climate issues escalate.

The declaration at the conference commits African Union Member States to persistently address and resolve environmental challenges while seizing opportunities for both national and regional sustainable development agendas.

The participants also pledged to further strengthen AMCEN's role as the principal platform for advancing collective national and regional environmental policies and actions.

Ministers expressed commitment to collaborate closely with relevant national authorities to ensure continuous sustainable financial support for the Trust Fund of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment and the United Nations Environment Programme Environment (UNEP) Fund.

The Declaration extended congratulations to Kenya and the African Union Commission for the upcoming Africa Climate Summit scheduled for September 4th to 6th, 2023, in Nairobi.

All African member states were encouraged to collaborate with the African Union Commission and Kenya to ensure the Summit's success.

The initiative by the Republic of Congo to organize the 'Summit of the Three Basins' in Brazzaville from October 26th to 28th, 2023, was also welcomed.

Among the decisions made were key topics such as seizing opportunities and fostering collaboration to tackle environmental challenges in Africa, African participation in the creation of an international legally binding instrument concerning plastic pollution, Africa's readiness for the 5th session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management, African involvement in the 6th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, and recognition of the outcomes of COP27, particularly decisions acknowledging the specific needs of the African continent.

Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP, which houses the AMCEN Secretariat, stressed the significance of AMCEN-19's outcomes. She urged key decision-makers to actively partake in forthcoming global meetings to advocate for perspectives and priorities aligned with the African context.

With the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly approaching, she called upon delegates to draft resolutions that will guide Africa's environmental agenda in UNEP’s next cycle of work.