Nairobi – The second session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) will be held in Nairobi from May 23 to 27.
The UNEA is the world’s highest level decision-making body on matters dealing with the environment.
According to President Uhuru Kenyatta, the forum will provide an ideal platform for delegations to deliberate and chart the environmental agenda, particularly the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce that the response by participants, including delegations from member states and major groups and stakeholders, has been extremely encouraging. The overwhelming response reflects the fact that the assembly has a truly universal character,” Kenyatta said in a statement.
Kenyatta said he intended to use the assembly to raise the issue of illegal trade in wildlife.
“As you are aware, it has had serious ramifications for Kenya. Late last month, I set ablaze 105 tons of ivory [and rhino horn], representing more than 8000 slaughtered elephants and 343 rhino.
“Our government will seek a total ban of trade in ivory at the 17th meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species [of Wild Fauna and Flora] (CITES) to be held in South Africa later this year,” he said.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said on its website the second session of the UNEA would take place at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, under the overarching theme of delivering on the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“The assembly, which represents the world’s highest level decision-making body on the environment, will culminate in resolutions and a global call to action to address the critical environmental challenges facing the world today,” the UNEP said.
UNEA enjoyed the universal membership of all 193 UN member states and the full involvement of major groups and stakeholders. With such wide reach into the legislative, financial, and development arenas, the UNEA provided a groundbreaking platform for leadership on global environmental policy.
UNEA-2 would reflect the latest global, regional, and national developments related to the environment. It would also provide the first global platform for reviewing progress on the sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly their environmental dimensions, the UNEP said.
African News Agency (ANA)