Addis Ababa Declaration: 54 African countries pledge to minimize impact of mineral mining

Environment ministers from fifty-four African countries have acknowledged key environmental challenges faced by the continent — land degradation, desertification and drought – in the Addis Ababa declaration.
The declaration was a key outcome of the 19th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) 2023 that was held in mid August in Ethiopia’s capital city. In the Addis Ababa declaration, the fifty-four environment ministers have agreed to institute national and regional strategies to minimize environmental impacts in the extraction and processing of critical mineral resources. The continent is facing several key environmental challenges as countries, especially China, rush to Africa to extract its mineral resources. The declaration prioritizes urgent, wide-ranging action on environmental challenges related to climate change, plastics pollution, marine protection, biodiversity conservation and natural capital.
Focusing on the theme “Seizing Opportunities and Enhancing Collaboration to Address Environmental Challenges in Africa,” the AMCEN 2023 conference included several constructive dialogues and discussions on formulating strategies to jointly address the challenges and seize emerging opportunities. The signatories also committed to take appropriate measures to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework through updating or revising national biodiversity strategies and action plans or national targets. The ultimate aim is to increase the global finance flow to at least $100 billion per year, stated the declaration. The countries have also agreed to prioritize the implementation of the Africa Blue Economy Strategy of the African Union.