In Africa ways need to be developed to improve the image of chemistry through government, industry, and societal activities. Government must provide clear, unambiguous policies, implementable legislation and fair enforcement. Industry must care for the health and safety of the workers, be mindful of product stewardship, and be ready to communicate hazards. Consumers must learn to read and understand cautionary labels, use chemicals as directed and dispose of waste chemicals safely.
Special challenges for Africa lie in existing international legal obligations and treaties, poor ambient environmental quality, development of sustainable consumption and cleaner production and finding eco-efficient uses of natural resources.
Existing international agreements regulating movement of hazardous waste across international boundaries are a challenge to African countries. No national legislation on the subject exists generally in Africa. Moreover, additions to the Montreal Protocol are making it increasingly difficult for economically disadvantaged nations to conform. Difficulty is found in implementing the protocols of Prior Informed Consent (PIC), and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) and standards for compliance to global climate change. Africa is one of the most economically vulnerable regions and therefore it is least able to deal with new or established regulations. African industry needs to participate more in the setting of international protocols. The continent has gone a long way recently to addressing this issue with the fifth and final round of talks on the United Nations treaty to control POPs having been held in Johannesburg in December 2000. Rio + 10 will be held in Johannesburg in 2002.
Africa must move its orientation in environmental practices from environmental protection to sustainable development. This will require careful environmental stewardship, social development, and economic growth. A priority goal will be to begin to eliminate poverty through the fulfilment of basic household needs, such as provision of safe water supplies. This problem can be addressed through sustainable consumption, i.e., through minimization of waste and recycling of chemical materials.
It is important to share expertise and experience to develop uniquely African solutions to support African industrial development. The challenges in Africa will require replacement of obsolete chemical processes with new, “green” sustainable technology. According to one estimate, there is much room for growth since the African economy is on average only about 20% technology driven.
