Plastic Pollution Surges Across Africa and the Pacific

Africa is facing a growing plastic waste problem, with enough plastic being burned or dumped in sub-Saharan Africa every minute to cover a football field, according to an analysis by charity Tearfund. The region is projected to deal with six times the amount of yearly plastic waste by 2060 compared to 2019. As negotiations begin on a treaty to fight plastic pollution, activists are emphasizing the urgent need for action, highlighting the increasing harm to the environment and the health of Africans. Church leaders have also warned negotiators about the "mountains" of mismanaged plastic waste in the region.