Kenya will host the United Nations Environment Assembly from February 28th to March 2nd, and a special session for marking the 50th anniversary in Nairobi of the United Nations Environment Programme.
The UNEA will also discuss climate change, biodiversity loss, and waste and pollution management.
Safeguard environment
The fifth session of the biannual UNEA will be the fifth since the first Environmental Assembly was held in Nairobi in 2014.
UNEP celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. While great strides have already been made to protect and encourage sustainable use of the environment, more needs to be done, said Sonja Lighton-Kone (acting Deputy Executive Director).
The conference is timely, as it will be the second international conference held after the COP26 in Glasgow [in 2021].
This year’s theme will be Strengthening Actions For Nature to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
This commemoration is also important for Kenya, as it gives us the chance to reflect on our successful journey to ensure UNEP is hosted in Nairobi. We look forward showcasing this journey during the conference, said Ms Kone.
UNEP, as the global environmental authority, has been providing steady and critical oversight on environmental matters since its inception.
UNEP is responsible for setting the global climate agenda, promoting sustainable development through the integration of the environmental dimension within the United Nations system and being an authoritative advocate of the global environment.
We must take the environment seriously. We hope that UNEA will help countries make policy decisions that will ensure a sustainable planet. Ms Kone said that countries must enter an emergency mode to make future-proof decisions.
Environmentconference
Kenya, which wants to continue hosting UNEP, has asked for more participation in person.
We expect high-level leadership dialogues that address the strengthening of UNEP, as well as ministerial declarations, stated Mr Chris Kiptoo Principal Secretary, Kenyas Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
Over 2,000 people confirmed attendance.
Covid-19 prevented the last UNEA from being held remotely, but we are happy to host it in person and have also considered a hybrid format to allow virtual attendees to discuss any substantive issues that were not resolved at the previous session.
We expect high-level leadership dialogues that talk to the strengthening UNEP as well ministerial declarations, stated Mr Kiptoo.
Mr Kiptoo also stated that the country is determined implement the Nationally Determined Contributions, which aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to come up with climate adaptation steps. This agreement was signed during the 2015 Paris Agreement.
The NDCs are usually updated every five year, and Kenya is one country that has already submitted an update.
Other issues that will be discussed at this years UNEA include climate change and biodiversity as well as management of waste and pollutants.
Mr Kiptoo stated that Kenya will be ahead of the rest in terms waste segregation if the waste management bill is passed by parliament.
We should do even more
Ambassador Isaiya Kasbira, Director-General of Foreign Affairs, stated that although the country encourages sustainable use, more needs to be done.
We want member countries to do more to improve the environment. He said that Kenya is a strong advocate on the environment issues and that climate change is a priority area for them.
Ambassador Makena Muchiri of the Permanent Mission of Kenya, UNEP, stated that this year’s UNEA is a great chance to talk about plastic pollution.
We will now establish a negotiating team to address plastic pollution, just as we did in Paris with a legally binding agreement on climate change. Already, Peru, Rwanda, and Kenya have co-sponsored the legally binding agreement. We hope it will be taken into consideration, she stated.
The high-ranking delegates to Nairobi include four Presidents from the Republic of Botswana Maldives Nigeria and South Sudan, the Vice Presidents of Tanzania Iran and Tanzania, the Prime Ministers of Sri Lankan and Namibia, as well as the UN Deputy Secret General and other dignitaries.
Kenya will also host side events related to climate change and environment. These include a Tree Growing Fund agreement, which will promote sustainable tree-growing and maritime plastic pollution.
The assembly hopes to encourage the discussion of putting scientific knowledge into practice.
This year’s UNEA will also serve as the platform for the 27thConferences of Parties (COP27), to be held in Sharm El-Sheikh Egypt, later in the year.