An aerial view of Nairobi City. [Photo: nation.co.ke]
The Third UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), will gather in Nairobi beginning Monday 27th November to 6th December 2017.
The bi-annual conference last met in 2015. This year’s theme is ‘towards a free pollution planet’.
Several activities have been organized to showcase ways to confront pollution in various forms.
The world’s highest environment decision-making body has a membership of 193 UN Member States enjoys the full involvement of UN organizations, specialized agencies, inter-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector.
In a statement, the Environment PS Charles Sunkuli said the Assembly provides a platform for leadership on global environmental policy.
“The Assembly aims to deliver a number of tangible commitments to end pollution of air, land, waterways, oceans, and to safely manage our chemicals and waste” he said and added, “The major key deliverables will include: A policy declaration on pollution, linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, to signal that humanity can work together to eliminate the threat of pollution and the destruction of our planet”
Other deliverables, the PS will include, resolutions and decisions adopted by Member States to address specific dimensions of pollution and Voluntary commitments by Governments, private sector entities and civil society organizations to clean up the planet.
The government will also showcase to the international community how Kenya managed to implement the plastic ban after many unsuccessful attempts.
“Hosting the 3rd UNEA conference puts Kenya in a unique position as the only country in Africa to host such a high-level decision-making body,” said Sunkuli.
He noted that the over 2000 delegates expected to participate at UNEA will be a major boost to the tourism sector.