The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi takes part in the 5th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEP)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation HE Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO takes part in the 5th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEP) held in Nairobi from february 28 to march 02, 2022 which makes progress towards a global agreement on plastic pollution a priority.

In his speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation H.E. Ambassador Albert SHINGIRO pointed out that the holding of the assembly is under the theme “strengthening the actions of nature to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals” comes at the right time. This innovative theme once again proves their determination in taking ambitious measures to move the world on a sustainable, resilient path and to rethink global governance in the service of people and the planet. Climate change is not the only source of all the ills facing human life, but it is clear that it is an aggravating factor.

Minister Albert SHINGIRO stressed that it is with this in mind that the Government of Burundi is committed to the protection of the environment and the climate resilience of communities. This desire is manifested through the key priorities of the National Development Plan of Burundi (PND 2018-2027), as well as the Orientation Document for the Environmental, Agricultural and Livestock Policy and above all, the National Plan of Agricultural Investment (PNIA 2021-2027). Burundi has put in place the following planning and monitoring tools: the 2018 decree banning the import, manufacture, trade and use of waste and other plastic packaging; the National Action Plan for adaptation to climate change; the national strategy on climate change and its action plan and the implementation of a vast reforestation program “EWE BURUNDI URAMBAYE”, green Burundi.

This is why Burundi would like to take this opportunity to seek support from development partners for the implementation of existing community resilience tools in the face of climate change, pollution and soil degradation. This is an opportunity for Burundi to appeal to polluting countries to take the lead in accelerating the reduction of GHGs but also to keep their promises in order to finance climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. The promise to provide $100 billion in climate finance per year to developing countries must be kept. He added.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation closed his speech by affirming Burundi’s firm commitment to global environmental governance and multilateralism based on the rule of international law to protect Mother Earth together in the unification of vision and approach and in generational equity.