The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) launch $82.5 Million project to eliminate harmful firefighting foams in African airports
FIRE – a $82.5 million initiative with a $10 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and $72.5 million in co-financing from partners – will phase out firefighting foams containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), hazardous 'forever chemicals' linked to serious environmental and health risks.
'The FIRE project shows how sector-focused action can drive the elimination of hazardous chemicals across value chains,' said Anil Sookdeo, Senior Chemicals Specialist, Global Environment Facility (GEF). 'The GEF is proud to support this effort, which we hope will inspire both participating countries and the wider aviation sector to transition to PFAS-free firefighting foams.'
'FIRE is an important initiative that empowers countries to eliminate one of the most harmful groups of pollutants found in firefighting foam supply chains,' said Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of UNEP's Industry and Economy Division. 'It supports a practical transition to safer, accessible, and affordable alternatives, showing that environmental and health protection can go hand in hand with business and operational viability.'
A safe and sustainable transition in airports and beyond
Together with participating airports, FIRE will support the transition from highly toxic firefighting foams to fluorine-free foams while maintaining safety and operational integrity. These efforts are expected to promote safe removal of 4,500 tonnes of PFAS-contaminated material from fire trucks and safe disposal of 130 tonnes of PFAS-based foam concentrate.
"This project marks a significant step forward in Kenya's commitment to protecting public health and the environment,' said Dr Mohamud Gedi, CEO and Managing Director of Kenya's Airport Authority. 'By phasing out harmful PFAS chemicals from firefighting foams, we are safeguarding our communities and contributing to a cleaner, safer future for all."
'The International Civil Aviation Organization is committed to supporting the adoption of safer and more sustainable firefighting practices at airports worldwide,' said Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General at ICAO. 'The facilitation of access to safe alternatives to PFAS foams will be a very significant step for the recipient countries.'
Turning Global Commitments into Action
'PFAS is an invisible pollution time bomb that demands urgent, globally coordinated action before it is too late,' said Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. 'The inclusion of several major PFAS under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants marks a critical step in international efforts to reduce exposure and environmental contamination. Initiatives like FIRE, which aim to eliminate PFAS from high-risk open applications such as firefighting foams, demonstrate how the Convention fosters multilateral cooperation, drives innovation, and transforms practices—ultimately contributing to a cleaner environment and a healthier planet and people."
The FIRE Project is implemented by UNEP, executed by ICAO, and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This project is part of a broader set of UNEP-GEF activities dedicated to global monitoring and eliminating the use of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and reducing the impacts of POPs on human health and the environment.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
11 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Meet UAE youngsters helping build Gaza water pipeline, supporting children emotionally
Eight young Emiratis are now in Rafah to lead life-saving aid for Gazans behind the border, becoming the UAE's first youth delegation to lead international humanitarian operations as they work from Al Arish, Egypt, supporting the coordination of relief for 600,000 Palestinians. The group of youth, aged in their mid-twenties to early thirties, are currently taking part in the management of everything from water pipeline operations to psychological support for children as part of Operation Gallant Knight 3. "The moment of coordinating relief shipments was a turning point in my volunteer experience, where I witnessed the direct impact of UAE efforts and was able to contribute to the direct impact," Ibrahim Talal Al Blooshi told Khaleej Times about his work managing aid distribution from the field. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Engineer Taiba Youssef Al Hammadi is applying her technical skills to accommodation facilities and water distribution. She said, 'My work in the setting of desalination plants showed me how a technical engineer can truly have an impact on community engagement and humanitarian affairs.' Their deployment coincided with World Humanitarian Day, when Dr Sultan Saif Al Neyadi, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, visited them in Al Arish to witness their operations firsthand. Saif Mubarak Al Amri, who supervises medical and food aid distribution, explained his motivation: "I took part in this initiative as I am always keen on representing the UAE and taking part in its global works. I wanted to use my skills in logistics and apply it here to have an impact,' he told Khaleej Times about overseeing supplies reaching Gaza's population. The delegation operates within the UAE's massive relief effort that has conducted 73 airdrops and delivered over 31,000 tonnes of aid to Gaza. But their role goes beyond logistics — they're providing psychological support and building connections with beneficiaries. Ali Khalifa Al Muhairi focuses on children's welfare: "Supporting children psychologically and socially was a distinctive moment, where I felt that hope is built just as material aid is built," he said. The Youth Social Missions Programme represents the first formal deployment of Emirati youth for international humanitarian work. Previous volunteers worked domestically at events like 'Tarahum for Gaza', Expo 2020 and COP28, but now they're taking those skills to crisis zones. "These youth embody the UAE's values of solidarity and giving, demonstrating their readiness to stand at the forefront," Al Neyadi said in a statement during his field visit. The young professionals come from diverse backgrounds — engineering, political science, media, and logistics — bringing fresh perspectives to traditional humanitarian work while learning crisis response firsthand. Their current mission includes supporting the UAE Lifeline pipeline delivering water to Gaza, coordinating with international relief teams, and documenting their experiences to train future delegations. The programme launches under the National Youth Agenda 2031, and has different streams that allow youth to engage in the country's different visions.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Once Rescued, Now a Rescuer
Found as a newborn by a vet in Kenya and adopted by a family from the UK, 31-year-old occupational therapist Becky Chaplin has come full circle. Today, she leads rehabilitation service on board the Global Mercy ™, the world's largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship operated by international charity Mercy Ships ( Becky's story is one of resilience, identity, and service. Found abandoned and still attached to her umbilical cord, she was saved by a passing veterinarian and adopted at 7 weeks old by a British missionary couple. 'Mum said when she picked me up, she felt God was saying 'this is your daughter,'' Becky said with a proud smile. 'I'm Kenyan by birth but British by adoption.' Raised between Kenya and the UK, she embraces her dual heritage and uses her unique perspective to bridge cultures in her work. 'Living in Kenya, I saw both sides,' she shared. 'I was exposed to extreme poverty and the opportunities you can have with education. I was fortunate to be adopted into a family that gave me that opportunity.' She received her early education in both countries, experiencing two school systems. At 10 years old, her family moved to the UK, where she continued her studies. 'I think I've got both cultures in me. I can relate to more than one group of people from different cultures.' That awareness fueled her decision to become an occupational therapist. After working in UK hospitals, including in burn and hand therapy, Becky felt called to volunteer her skills abroad. In 2023, she joined Mercy Ships for a three-month sabbatical in Senegal. 'I absolutely loved it. I loved being back in an African country with people that look like me,' she said. Today, as Rehabilitation Team Leader aboard the Global Mercy, Becky is part of a multinational volunteer crew providing free surgeries and medical training to help strengthen local healthcare systems. She leads post-operational rehabilitation for patients recovering from life-changing procedures; many of whom are children with server burns or congenital conditions. Many patients have left a lasting impression on Becky. One of them is a 10-year-old girl from Senegal who had a contracture. 'She made me work hard to disguise all the exercises within games,' said Becky. 'So, we painted, drew, and stuck things up on the wall. That was impactful because it wasn't easy. But there was a joy and satisfaction when we were able to get the movements that we wanted.' As the Global Mercy embarks on its next chapter in Sierra Leone, Becky's story embodies the mission of Mercy Ships, to bring hope and healing where it's needed most. To anyone contemplating service with Mercy Ships, Becky's advice is simple: 'If you want something that's enriching, pushes you, and grows you, then it's for you. You're not just giving, you also learn a lot and receive a lot. I'd say, just step out in faith and you won't be disappointed.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mercy Ships. For more information about Mercy Ships, contact: Email: ABOUT MERCY SHIPS: Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. An international faith-based organization, Mercy Ships has focused entirely on partnering with nations in Africa for the past three decades. Working with in-country partners, Mercy Ships also provides training to local healthcare professionals and supports the construction of in-country medical infrastructure to leave a lasting impact. Each year, more than 2,500 volunteer professionals from over 60 countries serve on board the world's two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy® and the Global Mercy ™. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, cooks, and engineers dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical and anesthetic care. Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has offices in 16 countries as well as an Africa Service Center in Dakar, Senegal. For more information, visit and follow @MercyShips on social media.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) launch $82.5 Million project to eliminate harmful firefighting foams in African airports
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have jointly launched the Fortifying Infrastructure for Responsible Extinguishment (FIRE) project, which aims to phase out the use of toxic fluorinated firefighting foams and replace them with safer alternatives at major airports in Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. FIRE – a $82.5 million initiative with a $10 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and $72.5 million in co-financing from partners – will phase out firefighting foams containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), hazardous 'forever chemicals' linked to serious environmental and health risks. 'The FIRE project shows how sector-focused action can drive the elimination of hazardous chemicals across value chains,' said Anil Sookdeo, Senior Chemicals Specialist, Global Environment Facility (GEF). 'The GEF is proud to support this effort, which we hope will inspire both participating countries and the wider aviation sector to transition to PFAS-free firefighting foams.' 'FIRE is an important initiative that empowers countries to eliminate one of the most harmful groups of pollutants found in firefighting foam supply chains,' said Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of UNEP's Industry and Economy Division. 'It supports a practical transition to safer, accessible, and affordable alternatives, showing that environmental and health protection can go hand in hand with business and operational viability.' A safe and sustainable transition in airports and beyond Together with participating airports, FIRE will support the transition from highly toxic firefighting foams to fluorine-free foams while maintaining safety and operational integrity. These efforts are expected to promote safe removal of 4,500 tonnes of PFAS-contaminated material from fire trucks and safe disposal of 130 tonnes of PFAS-based foam concentrate. "This project marks a significant step forward in Kenya's commitment to protecting public health and the environment,' said Dr Mohamud Gedi, CEO and Managing Director of Kenya's Airport Authority. 'By phasing out harmful PFAS chemicals from firefighting foams, we are safeguarding our communities and contributing to a cleaner, safer future for all." 'The International Civil Aviation Organization is committed to supporting the adoption of safer and more sustainable firefighting practices at airports worldwide,' said Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General at ICAO. 'The facilitation of access to safe alternatives to PFAS foams will be a very significant step for the recipient countries.' Turning Global Commitments into Action 'PFAS is an invisible pollution time bomb that demands urgent, globally coordinated action before it is too late,' said Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. 'The inclusion of several major PFAS under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants marks a critical step in international efforts to reduce exposure and environmental contamination. Initiatives like FIRE, which aim to eliminate PFAS from high-risk open applications such as firefighting foams, demonstrate how the Convention fosters multilateral cooperation, drives innovation, and transforms practices—ultimately contributing to a cleaner environment and a healthier planet and people." The FIRE Project is implemented by UNEP, executed by ICAO, and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This project is part of a broader set of UNEP-GEF activities dedicated to global monitoring and eliminating the use of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and reducing the impacts of POPs on human health and the environment. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
