As an implementing partner of the IslandPlas Project in São Tomé and Príncipe, Green Advocacy Ghana (GreenAd) participated in the first meeting of the project’s Steering Committee, presided over by the Minister of Environment, Youth and Sustainable Tourism, H.E. Nilda da Mata.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders to strengthen coordination and advance efforts to address plastic pollution in São Tomé and Príncipe. During the session, the Minister highlighted the serious threat posed by plastic waste to the country’s World Biosphere Reserve, tourism sector, and blue economy.

Through a circular economy approach, the IslandPlas Project seeks to transform plastic waste into valuable resources, improve the livelihoods of 500 people working in the informal recycling sector, create dignified employment opportunities, and contribute to the growth of the local economy.

For GreenAd, the meeting reaffirmed the importance of strong institutional cooperation and partnerships in tackling plastic pollution and building sustainable waste management systems. We are proud to be part of a partnership involving IUCN, the Coca-Cola Foundation, local partners, and the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe in advancing this important agenda.

We believe that environmental protection and economic development are not mutually exclusive. Through collaborative action and innovative circular economy solutions, São Tomé and Príncipe has the potential to become a leading African example of how protecting the environment can also create livelihoods, strengthen communities, and drive sustainable economic growth.