Pollution: Big challenges for delegates attending UNEA conference in Kenya
By Duncan Mboyah
Kenya hosts over 7,000 delegates who attend the United Nations Environmental; Assembly (UNEA), according to Kenyan official.
Prof. Judi Wakhungu, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources said that heads of states and government, 100 ministers, environmental scientists, UN agencies, members of the civil society and private sector are attending the conference that takes place from December 4th – 6th.
“Governments around the world are looking up to United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) to monitor and review and establish environmental challenges including pollution,” the CS said during a media briefing.
Prof. Wakhungu said that Kenya is committed to supporting the work of the United Nations and desires to maintain Nairobi’s position as the central hub of the UNEP.
UNEA is the world’s highest level decision making body on environment and it meets biannually in Nairobi. The last meeting was held in Nairobi in 2015.
UNEA has a universal membership of all 193 UN Member States and enjoys the full involvement of UN organizations, specialized agencies, inter-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector.
The Assembly provides a platform for leadership on global environmental policy and aims at delivering a number of tangible commitments to end pollution of air, land, waterways, oceans, and to safely manage our chemicals and waste.
Under this year’s theme of ‘Towards a free pollution planet’, delegates will deliver a policy declaration on pollution, linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to signal that humanity can work together to eliminate the threat of pollution and the destruction of our planet.
“We have instituted and implemented a wide range of policy and regulatory measures towards eradicating pollution on air, land, water and marine,” she noted.
Kenyan is expected to showcase to the world how it has managed to implement the recent ban on use of plastic bags.
About Duncan Mboya
Duncan Mboyah is a Kenyan citizen who specializes in science journalism – health, environment, agriculture and sustainable socioeconomic development. He is currently working with Xinhua News Agency in Nairobi covering science and climate change. Duncan has over 15 years of journalism practice and has written hundreds of articles on climate change effects in Kenya and Africa in general in the past years.
He also regularly contributes articles to Scidev net, a British owned online science publication that specializes on science and technology development in the developing world. He has a Degree – Bachelor of Science in Communication and Journalism from Moi University and is currently a Communication’s Studies Masters student at Moi University, Kenya. Duncan also works as a media consultant and trainer in science and climate change reporting.
