Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé and Príncipe have joined forces to reduce the burden of mercury and persistent organic pollutants
Mercury and persistent organic pollutants pose risks to human health and the environment
$48-million initiative will prevent the build-up and improve the management and disposal of hazardous waste
Praia, 12th April 2024 – The governments of Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe have joined forces today, launching a $9-million regional project with $39-million of co-financing to combat chemical pollution and waste.
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and mercury pose a serious threat in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Neither break down in the environment, contaminating what limited landmass exists, while exposure, even in small doses, harms Islander’s health.
Led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and support from both the Basel and Stockholm Conventions Regional Centre Senegal (BCRC-SCRC Senegal) and the University of Lisbon, the Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-chemical Development in Small Island Developing States (ISLANDS) Atlantic Regional Child Project seeks to prevent the build-up of POPs and mercury in each country, while improving the management and disposal harmful substances in products, chemicals and materials.
The three countries make up the final piece of the ISLANDS Programme, an initiative that supports thirty-three SIDS across the globe to improve chemicals and waste management, increase recycling rates and share solutions.
“It is up to the state to regulate, legislate and control but it is essential that everyone participates in the process of waste management and guarantees chemical safety” said Cabo Verde Minister of Agriculture and Environment Gilberto Silva.
Ablaye Diao, Director of BCRC-SCRC Senegal, emphasised the importance of working together with the wide range of stakeholders involved in the initiative.
"It's key to ensure resources are allocated effectively" he said. “We’ll be working across sectors in each country, creating synergy with ongoing initiatives, while collaborating with existing ISLANDS projects in the Caribbean to build on our counterpart’s experience.”
Lessons learned will be shared throughout the programme via the ISLANDS knowledge platform, ensuring each countries’ experience feeds into the better management of SIDS globally.
The project is projected prevent more than 120 metric tonnes of POPs, 6 metric tonnes of mercury, over 4,200 metric tonnes of marine litter and 3,200 metric tonnes of hazardous waste from harming the environment, improving the lives of over 500,000 people—and turning the tide for future generations.
About ISLANDS
The Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in Small Island Developing States (ISLANDS) program is a $450-million, five-year initiative backed by the Global Environment Facility and partners, implemented with the support of UN Environment, the United Nations Development Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Inter-American Development Bank. Participating countries include: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Cook Islands, Dominican Republic, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guyana, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Union of Comoros, and Vanuatu.
About the Global Environment Facility
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral fund dedicated to confronting biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and strains on land and ocean health. Its grants, blended financing, and policy support helps developing countries address their biggest environmental priorities and adhere to international environmental conventions. Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than $22 billion in financing and mobilized another $120 billion for more than 5,000 national and regional projects.
About UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
For more information, contact
Ines Benabdallah, Programme Management Officer, UN Environment Programme
Laura MacInnis, Senior Communications Officer, GEF
