ADDIS ABABA DECLARATION (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Env & Eco)

Context: Environment ministers of the African continent have agreed to institute national and regional strategies to minimise environmental impacts in the extraction and processing of critical mineral resources.

• Fifty-four countries acknowledged key environmental challenges faced by the continent - land degradation, desertification and drought - in the Addis Ababa declaration, August 18, 2023. 
• The declaration was a key outcome of the 19th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) 2023 held from August 14 to 18, 2023 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 
• The theme for AMCEN 2023 was “Seizing Opportunities and Enhancing Collaboration to Address Environmental Challenges in Africa”. 

Addis Ababa declaration

• The declaration prioritises urgent, wide-ranging action on environmental challenges related to climate change, plastics pollution, marine protection, biodiversity conservation and natural capital. 
• These actions would minimise environmental impacts and contribute to the global goals of mitigating climate change, protecting ecosystems and promoting sustainable development.
• The countries 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 work on a priority to implement Africa Blue Economy Strategy of the African Union.