With a focused agenda geared towards promoting inclusive and cohesive efforts, United Nations Environment Assembly UNEA-6 is poised to tackle the multifaceted challenges posed by the triple planetary crisis head-on through enhanced multilateral cooperation.
“As we prepare for this assembly, it is clear that the world has an environmental must-do list. This is a must-do list for tackling what we at UNEP call the triple planetary crisis: climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. This crisis disproportionately impacts the African continent, including Kenya,” says Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director.
According to Andersen, the impacts are here and growing. Last year was the hottest on record, bringing more intense storms, droughts and wildfires. Species are under massive pressure; forests are falling and soils are turning infertile. Millions of people are dying each year from exposure to pollution and chemicals.
“The urgency of action is evident as we witness record-breaking temperatures, intensified storms, droughts, wildfires, and the rapid depletion of species and ecosystems. Millions suffer from pollution-related illnesses annually.
“While global initiatives such as the operationalization of the Loss and Damage fund and advancements in climate and biodiversity frameworks offer hope, stronger multilateralism is essential to accelerate progress. UNEA-6 will focus on driving inclusive and multilateral action to address the interconnected strands of the triple planetary crisis,” she said.
However, this year’s UNEA- is set to convene in Nairobi and it is anticipated to draw over 70 Ministers and 3,000 delegates to Nairobi. With 20 draft resolutions and two draft decisions already submitted for discussion.
In addition to core resolutions, UNEA-6 will feature a Youth Environment Assembly, leadership dialogues on finance, science, data, digitalization, and multilateralism, as well as a dedicated day for aligning multilateral environmental agreements for amplified action.
Also speaking, Radhika Ochalik, UNEP’s Director for Governance Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry said: “As Kenya, we are proud to welcome all delegates from the 193 United Nations Member States, Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Environment, and other high-ranking dignitaries to Nairobi for the 6th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) from February 26th to March 1st, 2024, under the Presidency of the Kingdom of Morocco.”
The theme of this year’s assembly is “Effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.”
UNEA serves as the highest-level decision-making body for environmental matters, setting the global environmental agenda, providing policy guidance, and defining policy responses to emerging environmental challenges.
UNEA-6 has been organized around six thematic areas, resulting in twenty-two resolutions aimed at compelling more effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral action.
“It is a privilege for Kenya to host UNEA every two years in Nairobi, given our status as the global headquarters of UNEP, one of the two United Nations agencies headquartered in the Global South, alongside UN-Habitat. Kenya continues to uphold its reputation as the environment capital of the world by spearheading climate action initiatives,” Ochalik added.
According to Ochalik, President Dr. William Ruto’s administration is dedicated to finding solutions to environmental challenges, as outlined in initiatives like the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto.
“Under the National Landscapes and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy, Kenya is committed to achieving 30 percent tree cover by 2032 through the National Tree Programme.”
