Zero Waste: Towards A Cleaner Planet. Experts Push Conversations To Discourage Incineration Ahead Of COP30

©Rommel Cabrera/GAIA

As the world races to cut methane emissions and meet the Global Methane Pledge, GAIA’s new

global report highlights that incineration worsens climate impacts, while zero waste solutions

provide fast, fair, and effective climate action.

Download the full report

The report identifies case studies in Nigeria, Brazil, Philippines that demonstrate that incinerators harm the environment and thus in the long term contribute to high carbon and health costs. It says while they may provide short term gain, communities near incinerators are highly exposed to a toxic environment.

“ Communities are resisting polluting projects and embracing scalable zero

waste solutions that reduce emissions, advance social justice, and support

wastepickers’ livelihoods.”

—GAIA Media Advisory

The report amplifies perspectives of communities resisting polluting projects, showing that zero

waste solutions are scalable and socially equitable.

Segregation of waste in Nairobi's Imara Daima Estate.(A gated community)

“Zero waste is not just an environmental strategy, but a climate imperative ahead of

COP30. With COP30 in Brazil on the horizon, the report offers timely evidence that

investing in zero waste, not incinerators, is the fastest, fairest, and most effective way

to fight climate change.”

—GAIA Media Advisory 🌍 About GAIA

GAIA is a network of grassroots groups and alliances representing more than 1,000 organizations from 100 countries, working toward a just, toxic-free world without incineration.

www.no-burn.org

Breathing Easy: How Nyayo Estate Residents Are Taking Air Quality Seriously

Residents in Nyayo Estate Nairobi in evening walks in the estate

A stroll through Nyayo Estate in Embakasi, Nairobi, in the early morning or late evening paints a picture of tranquility—children’s laughter fills the air, residents walk leisurely along tree-lined pavements, and birds chirp among leaves rustling in the wind.

Yet beneath this calm, an invisible threat lingers. Tiny particles float in the air—so small they slip straight into the lungs, posing serious health risks.

To tackle this, small, box-like air quality monitors now sit discreetly on lamp posts and the corners of apartment blocks, measuring the air residents breathe every second.

Why These Monitors Matter

Air pollution is often called the “silent killer.”

The World Health Organisation recommends a safe annual average for fine particles (PM2.5) at 5 micrograms per cubic metre, yet Nairobi’s average in 2020 was 14.7—nearly three times the safe limit.

This means residents are exposed daily to air dirtier than it should be. Vehicles, motorbikes, factories, and open waste burning all contribute, with transport alone accounting for 40% of the city’s pollution.

Recognising this reality, Nyayo Estate management has installed air monitors across the estate, which houses an estimated 20,000 households, to give residents real-time data about the air they breathe.

Community Voices

“When I first saw the monitor at Gate D, I thought it was just a light box,” says one resident. “Now, I check the readings on my phone. When the levels of toxins are high, I make sure my children stay indoors and close the windows.”

This simple, proactive measure is an example of how data-driven awareness empowers residents to protect themselves and their families, and reflects the growing importance of community-led action for environmental integrity and public health.

By combining technology, awareness, and responsibility, Nyayo Estate is taking practical steps toward cleaner air—showing that integrity in action isn’t just about transparency, but also about protecting what matters most: people’s health and well-being.

Less Timber, More Ocean: Fibre Glass Innovation For Cleaner Waters

By Moraa Nyangorora

Wood is the centre of boatmaking across most water sources in the world.

Climate change, marine pollution and innovations, however, have seen the transition of the traditional craftsmanship of boats into climate-friendly options like fibreglass.

A paradigm shift noted by Prof Anyang Nyong'o, a Governor in one of Kenya’s Counties, Kisumu, during the commissioning of five modern artisanal fibreglass fishing boats.

The commissioning at the Kichinjio and Nanga beaches in Kisumu in mid-2025 saw the unveiling of a patrol vessel and an upgraded landing site. County Kisumu

 “The fibreglass boats are the future. They are engineered for stability and durability, directly addressing the tragic loss of life on the lake. They are also powerful economic tools.

Water sources across Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, among others, are embracing the viable alternative of fibreglass boats - not only for performance and durability but for their potential to reduce environmental impacts, improve health outcomes and harness modern materials. 

Benedict Lamptey, the managing director of Fibreglass in Ghana, says the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority has spearheaded the construction of 20 fishing boats for use along the coastal belts of Ghana.

“With the advent of climate change where water bodies had become more turbulent for fishing and safe transport systems, what Ghana needed was fibre glass boats"

modernghana.com

BENEFIT	WOOD	FIBRE
Rot, Decay, Maintenance	Wood is vulnerable to pests and water damage, and requires intensive maintenance. Fibreglass has fewer replacements and less environmental costs over its lifetime	Fibre glass protects against moisture, rot and decay, extending lifespan sportsmanboatsmfg.com
Fuel efficiency/weight performance	Wooden boats are heavier, thus require more powerful engines and more energy to move in the water	Fibreglass is lighter and can be moulded into smoother, more efficient hulls- less fuel(energy) used, lower emissions

FIBRE GLASS OPERATIONS

Kenya: Kwale County / KEMFSED project	Kwale County distributed 13 fibreglass boats to fishermen and seaweed farmers to improve efficiency, productivity, food security, and income. The initiative is part of a broader blue economy effort. Kenya News
Kenya: Lake Turkana fisherfolk	Fishermen are moving from wooden canoes to fibreglass motorboats. Wooden hulls limited them to shallow waters; the newer fibre engine boats allow access to safer, deeper waters and improve livelihoods. NTV Kenya
Kenya: Kisumu County & Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL)	Joint initiative to build modern fibreglass boats for fishermen in various sub-counties. Also developing patrol & surveillance vessels. Designed to improve safety, reduce accidents, improve fish storage (cooler boxes), etc. Capital FM+3kenyatribune.com+3Tnx Africa+3
Ghana: Fibreglass Ghana / Coastal & Volta regions	Fibreglass Ghana has built fishing boats for coastal belts and the Volta Lake to replace dugout canoes. Advantages cited: greater stability, robustness under rough waters, fewer accidents, and environmental benefit through reduced demand for timber. modernghana.com+1
Tanzania: DMG & Zanzibar Ministry of Blue Economy	Tanzania is constructing multiple fibreglass boats (of various sizes) to support local fishing, improve durability over wooden boats, enhance safety and reduce maintenance costs. Also recognising environmental and resource conservation benefits (less strain on wood) with increasing local boat manufacture. dmg.co.tz
Uganda (and Great Lakes region)	UEL Resins & Fibreglass Ltd builds fibreglass boats and marine structures for Rwanda, Uganda, Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan. The boats are promoted as lightweight, strong, resistant to water/weather/chemical ingress, useful lifespan of >30 years. uelresins.biz+1
Academic: University of Johannesburg research	There is research on using eco-friendly, recycled polymer composites in boat building (e.g. substituting or complementing fibreglass, using recycled plastics, polymers). This helps address disposal and environmental impact issues. University of Johannesburg