UNEP@50 conference on environment kicks off Monday

The United Nations Environment Programme UNEP@50 conference on environment conservation kicks off at their headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi Monday with 193 member states represented.

This year’s focus is on strengthening UNEP for the implementation of the environmental dimension of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

According to UNEP website, UNEP@50 is a time to reflect on the past and envision the future.

It provides an opportunity to reinvigorate international cooperation and spur collective action to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.

Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko welcomed the guests and called on them to continue spearheading conservation efforts in their states.

His sentiments were echoed by Chief Conservator of Forests Julius Kamau who said that the government through the Kenya forest service is striving to restore the glory of City Park forest where the trees were planted.

Last week, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Amb Kamau Macharia, assured that Kenya was ready for the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2).

Amb  Macharia added that immediately after UNEA-5.2, the Assembly will hold a Special Session on  March 3to 4, 2022, which is devoted to the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the creation of UN Environment Programme, dubbed (UNEP@50).

UNEA 5.2 overall theme is: ‘Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals’,

UNEP@50 will be: ‘Strengthening UNEP for the Implementation of the Environmental Dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. 

The two Conferences bring together over 2,000 delegates from 193 UN Member States. UNEP is the only UN Headquarters in the global South.

The biannual UNEA will mark the Fifth Session since the First Environmental Assembly that was held in Nairobi in 2014.

The session of UNEA5.2 and the Special session on UNEP@50 Kenya has called for a wider in person participation and among the high-level delegates among them, four Presidents, from the Republic of Botswana, Maldives, Nigeria and South Sudan, the Vice President of Tanzania and of Iran, the Prime Minister of Srilanka and Namibia, the UN D

eputy Secretary General, the President of the General Assembly as well as several Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Environmental Ministries.

Both gatherings will be in-person and online in compliance with international Covid-19 procedures as regards to mass gatherings.

Also https://www.kbc.co.ke/kenya-ready-to-host-unea-5-2-and-unep50-ps-kamau-says/