1st UN environment assembly to hold in Nairobi next month

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is set to attend the first UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) holding in Nairobi, Kenya, from June 23 to June 27.

A statement issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi on Friday said that other high-level representatives would be attending the assembly.

It said that the event marks a historic milestone in UNEP’s 43-year history and was expected to be attended by high-level delegations from over 160 UN-member and observer states.

“Mr Ban Ki-moon, the President of the UN General Assembly, Ministers of Environment and Foreign Affairs and chief executives of a number of international organisations are set to attend the assembly.

“They are set to attend the newly-established UNEA that will bring together over 1,200 high-level participants from government, business and civil society.”

It explained that UNEA is the newly constituted UN high-level decision making platform on environment charged with the task to chart a new course in the way the international community addressed environmental sustainability challenges.

According to the statement, more than 80 ministers, vice-ministers, secretaries of state as well as heads of international convention secretariats have confirmed their attendance so far.

“The convening of the first UNEA session in Nairobi, home of UNEP and the often referred to environment capital of the world, represents a coming-of-age for the global environment community.

“For the first time, all 193 members of the UN, plus observer states and major stakeholders will be represented in the new assembly.

The forum would bestow on UNEA a new level of representation, legitimacy and authority as a broad range of actors from the world of economy, finance, social sciences, legislation, the judiciary and development were expected to participate.

“The issues facing this first session of UNEA are weighty ones, which require the voices of all member states and partners to be heard.

“Their attendance will help shape the global environment agenda, under the stewardship of UNEA.

“Now more than ever, it has become increasingly clear that the dichotomy between environmental sustainability, economic and social development would be addressed.

“It should be overcome through the careful management of natural resources as the keystone of a prosperous and stable society, the statement.

Amb. Martin Kimani, Kenya’s UN Permanent Representative, in the statement said: “Kenya is ready to welcome the world’s leading environmentalists and experts in areas related to sustainable development to UNEA in June.

“Our country has made immense strides in building a Green Economy; observe our cutting edge geothermal developments and the high percentage of our GDP from nature tourism.

“The success of UNEA and UNEP are high in our priorities. Kenya is taking every measure to ensure the success of this landmark event.

“We are inviting delegates from around the world to actively participate in this historic moment and make their contributions to the assembly,” he said.

For Kenya, the host country of UNEP’s headquarters for over four decades, the convening of UNEA in its capital city of Nairobi marks another milestone in this pioneering partnership.

It said that the first UNEA session was expected to deliver a series of outcomes that would spell out concrete actions to address the key environmental challenges discussed at UNEA.

“Where appropriate, UNEA may also recommend drafted resolutions for adoption at the United Nations General Assembly for UN system-wide action.

“At UNEA’s high-level segment held under the slogan “A Life of Dignity” all Ministers and international leaders will gather to address two key sustainable development and environment topics.

The statement identified the topics as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including sustainable consumption and production and the illegal trade in wildlife, to address the escalation in poaching and surge in related environmental crime.

(NAN)