#Kenya #Nairobi #Sewage Pollution #Ocean Sewage Alliance #UN Global Treaty

Urgent Call for Action on Sewage Pollution

The 11th Our Ocean Conference, held from June 16-18 in Kenya, has spotlighted an alarming environmental threat—sewage pollution. While the global focus has shifted towards issues like plastic waste and climate change, sewage pollution remains a significant and often overlooked challenge. The Ocean Sewage Alliance, supported by various organizations, is advocating for a United Nations Global Sewage Treaty to address this urgent situation.

The Overlooked Threat

Nearly half of the world’s wastewater is released into the environment without treatment. This untreated sewage contaminates vital resources such as rivers, lakes, coastlines, coral reefs, and fishing areas. The aftermath is not just environmental degradation—it severely impacts public health, food security, and economic stability, costing an estimated USD $4 trillion globally each year.

Jasmine Fournier, Executive Director of the Ocean Sewage Alliance, stated, “Ocean conservation cannot succeed while billions of gallons of untreated sewage flow daily into our waterways. Sewage pollution is a transboundary crisis. No country can solve it alone.”

The Case of Kenya

Kenya, the host of this year's conference, provides a poignant example of the challenges posed by sewage pollution. Current estimates indicate that only 11% of the country’s wastewater is treated properly. Research suggests that inadequate management of wastewater results in a 5.1% loss in Kenya’s fisheries economy and over USD 65 million lost annually due to waterborne diseases stemming from contamination. This alarming trend highlights how sewage pollution jeopardizes public health and economic growth.

Scientific studies have underscored that sewage and wastewater pollution are detrimental to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which are crucial for global marine conservation. As East Africa faces particularly high levels of wastewater pollution, researchers warn that global conservation goals—such as the commitment to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030—cannot be achieved without significant improvements in wastewater management.

Innovative Local Solutions

Despite the challenges, innovative approaches in Kenya are generating positive results. Initiatives aimed at enhancing sanitation access are leading to job creation, healthier communities, and reduced pollutants entering waterways. Fresh Life has emerged as an example of how investments in sanitation can produce benefits not just for people, but for the ecosystem as well. Eric Njogu, Managing Director at Fresh Life, remarked, “The costs of inaction are borne by communities through disease, degraded ecosystems, and lost economic opportunities.”

A Framework for Change

The coalition at the conference proposed a Global Sewage Treaty formed around six crucial pillars:
1. Build Strong Monitoring Systems
2. Update Regulatory Standards
3. Unlock Innovative Financing
4. Set International Targets
5. Strengthen Governance and Enforcement
6. Promote Nature-Based Solutions

These pillars emphasize that achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) is integral to the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Without water that is clean and sanitation systems that work, progress in health, food security, economic development, and environmental protection remains elusive.

Jasmine Fournier concluded, “Clean water and sanitation are the foundation of healthy, resilient communities. The solutions to sewage pollution already exist. What is missing is international cooperation. A Global Sewage Treaty would help countries accelerate action and transition towards systems that achieve all SDGs by protecting both people and their ecosystems.”

Call to Action

Ending sewage pollution requires concerted action at all levels. The coalition urges individuals and organizations to join the growing movement advocating for a United Nations Global Sewage Treaty. To learn more about the Action Pledge designed to generate momentum for coordinated action on sewage pollution, visit globalsewagetreaty.org.