A delegation of IPEN members are joining the resumed eighteenth session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Dakar, Senegal this week, under the theme: “Ensuring the well-being of populations and ensuring environmental sustainability in Africa".
Joint press release of Oeko-Institut, PAN-Ethiopia, Centre for Sustainable Cycles, Center for Justice Governance and Environmental Action and SRADev
Tuesday, 21 June 2022
Addis Abeba/Freiburg/Koforidua/Lagos/Mombasa The export of used lithium-ion batteries for second-life applications from Europe to Africa must follow clear rules and be better controlled. This is what Researchers and environmentalists from Oeko-Institut (Germany), PAN- Ethiopia (Ethiopia), the Centre for Sustainable Cycles (Ghana), the Center for Justice Governance and Environmental Action (Kenya), and SRADev (Nigeria) call for.
Second-life for Lithium-ion batteries: In Africa or Europe?
In view of the currently rapidly growing number of used batteries from electric vehicles, buses and e-scooters, the question of proper end-of-life management is becoming more and more urgent. Although recycling capacities are being built up in the EU, the logistics and recycling processes are usually associated with considerable costs.
"There is currently a trend to 'donate' used batteries to other countries," says battery researcher Dr Johannes Betz of the Oeko-Institut. Many manufacturers argue that used batteries can still be used – for example in solar projects in Africa. More and more projects and press releases are praising this so-called repurposing approach as a solution. "Repurposing of used Li-ion batteries can certainly yield many environmental benefits”, says Betz. "But it is hard to understand why the focus is on shipping old batteries to low- and middle- income countries, given the great need for electricity storage in Germany and the EU”.
Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) in Consumer Products Made of Recycled Plastic from Eleven Arabic and African Countries
Both the environment in Africa and the Arabic region and the human health of Africans and people from Arabic countries suffer from toxic chemicals and imported wastes, including illegal wastes, more than in developed countries.
A new report finds that many toys and other products made from recycled plastic sold in Africa and Arabic countries contain dioxins at levels equivalentto hazardous waste
Tuesday, 24 May 2022
For immediate release
Contact: RNDr. Jindrich Petrlik, Program Director, Arnika - Toxics and Waste Programme, IPEN advisor on dioxins and waste +420.603582984 jindrich.petrlik@arnika.org
Environmental groups call for support for strict limits on toxic chemicals in waste as proposed by African countries
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania A public forum on Pesticides Impact on Health and Environment prompted a lively debate among participants. Held on 1 March 2022 at Alliance Francaise, with support from the French Embassy, the discussion ranged from issues of pesticides in general, to their health and environmental impacts, alternatives such as agroecological farming, and methods of changing government such as lobbying strategies.
Uganda is a land locked country with an area of 241,500 km2 lying astride the equator. It is located in the eastern region of Africa, situated at latitude 1º22’12.00” north and longitude 32º17’24.00” east. The country is bordered by South Sudan to the north, Kenya to the east, Tanzania and Rwanda to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Of the total area coverage of 241,500 sq. km, about 15.3% is open water, 3.0% permanent wetlands and 9.4% seasonal wetlands. The perimeter of Uganda is approximately 16,630 km.
Following the emergence of COVID-19, the President of Mozambique, Hon. Filipe Nyusi, declared a state of emergency on 1st April 2020. He announced a number of measures to contain its spread, including prohibition of public and private gatherings and closure of all external leisure and entertainment establishments, schools, and borders to neighbouring countries, among others. He also put in place financial measures to support the private sector to face the economic impact of the pandemic. The emergency was extended until the end of 2020, when this report was being prepared.
