caption id=”attachment_7609″ align=”alignnone” width=”1400″] Somalian Charcoal and United Nations
sanctions[/caption]

Regional partnership underway to help Somalia enforce the ban on illegal charcoal trade

In 2012, the United Nations Security Council Resolution imposed an embargo on charcoal exports from Somalia to combat illegal logging, deforestation, land degradation, communal violence, and regional conflicts. These issues were caused by charcoal production, leading to humanitarian crises. Since then, the UN, Somali government, and other partners have taken steps to promote sustainable alternative energy sources and diversify income for communities. In April 2019, UN Environment hosted a meeting that brought together the Federal Republic of Somalia, Gulf States, and neighboring countries to support the Somalia charcoal ban. Hussein Mohamoud Hussein, Somalia’s Minister of Livestock, Forestry and Range, highlighted the environmental, security, economic, and health challenges that the production, use, and illegal trade of charcoal pose to Somali citizens. He also praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its contribution to enforcing the ban. Representatives of Iraq, Oman, and Djibouti recognized that the illegal trade of charcoal represents an environmental and security threat to the region. They reiterated their support for the Government of Somalia’s efforts to curb the illegal trade. To support Somalia in this endeavor, the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and UN Environment are working together to implement a joint program for Sustainable Charcoal Reduction and Alternative Livelihoods. This program supports policy development, capacity-building, advocacy, and alternative energy and livelihood options to reduce charcoal use, production, and trade in Somalia.

Charcoal from Somalia Woman Cooking

The programme advocates for six areas of intervention:

The programme suggests six interventions to combat deforestation and indoor air pollution in Somalia:

1. Accelerate distribution of efficient cooking stoves
2. Introduce sustainable and efficient charcoal production
3. Establish new energy plantations
4. Develop the liquid petroleum gas market
5. Promote solar energy
6. Introduce biogas

Addressing Somalia’s illegal trade in charcoal can solve deforestation and indoor air pollution issues. Every year, 3.8 million people die from exposure to pollutants from cooking stoves that burn solid fuels or kerosene.

For more information please contact:

Saidou Hamani, Resilience to Disasters and Conflicts Coordinator, Regional Office for Africa Saidou.Hamani@un.org

Mohamed Atani, Head of Communication and Outreach for Africa. E-mail: mohamed.atani@un.org tel. +254 727531253.

Full Credits to UN Environment Program

Content Extracted from https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/regional-partnership-underway-help-somalia-enforce-ban-illegal-charcoal