Regional Climate Change Plan in Works; Plastic Bags, Toxic Waste Pose Challenges

摘要

Countries in East Africa are working to establish a regional climate change plan, reduce use of the plastic polyethylene, monitor toxic waste dumping, and regulate development of energy resources. The environmentally diverse region encompasses Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, which are the five countries of the East African Community; Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, which make up the Horn of Africa; South Sudan; and Sudan. The region has severe environmental problems that include land degradation, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, declining soil fertility, and desertification, most of which have resulted from droughts, overgrazing, poor agricultural practices, and overharvesting of forest resources.