Nairobi Set to Host Pivotal UNEA-6 Environmental Summit
UNEA-6 promises to be an intense week packed with negotiations, meetings, and side events that will have significant ramifications for global environmental governance.
NAIROBI, Kenya - The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is preparing to host the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in Nairobi, Kenya from February 26 to March 1, 2024, writes Baboloki Semele.
This high-profile event, expected to draw over 70 environment ministers and 3,000 delegates from around the world, represents the highest-level decision-making body on the environment globally.
The theme for UNEA-6, “Effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution,” reflects the pressing need for unified action on today’s escalating environmental crises.
With climate impacts intensifying, biodiversity plummeting, and pollution choking ecosystems worldwide, UNEA-6 aims to forge inclusive, multilateral solutions to these urgent, interconnected challenges.
The upcoming session will deliberate on 20 draft resolutions and decisions spanning a diverse array of environmental topics.
These discussions will engage government leaders, intergovernmental organizations, civil society groups, scientists, private sector representatives and more to shape global environmental governance policies and set strategic priorities for action.
“UNEA-6 comes at a critical juncture, as we seek to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution that threatens people and ecosystems worldwide,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen.
She stressed the particular importance of UNEA-6 for African nations, including host country Kenya, that bear a disproportionate impact from these environmental threats.
Echoing this sentiment, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Environment Soipan Tuya highlighted Kenya’s pride in hosting UNEA-6 and its ongoing commitment to conservation and climate action.
She cited national initiatives like the Africa Climate Summit and the Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call-to-Action as examples of Kenya’s environmental leadership.
UNEA-6 will convene dialogues, events and sessions across six key thematic areas aimed at driving inclusive, sustainable environmental action.
Among these are high-level leadership dialogues on critical topics like finance, science, data and digitalization for the environment.
The assembly will also feature a dynamic Youth Environment Assembly to engage young leaders. Additionally, a full day will focus on aligning various multilateral environmental agreements toward unified goals.
Importantly, UNEA-6 looks beyond policy-setting, as a platform to galvanize the political will and resources needed to solve today’s environmental problems.
While the summit may not resolve every issue, Andersen noted it can serve as a catalyst to accelerate global efforts. “UNEA-6 will guide UNEP’s work in this decisive decade for people and planet,” she remarked.
As Kenya prepares to welcome delegates from all 193 United Nations Member States, it reaffirms its commitment to environmental stewardship and climate leadership on the international stage.
UNEA-6 promises to be an intense week packed with negotiations, meetings, and side events that will have significant ramifications for global environmental governance.
With the eyes of the world upon it, UNEA-6 offers nations an opportune moment to come together under the banner of sustainability and multilateral environmental action.
The upcoming summit represents a potential milestone for international cooperation on our shared environmental challenges.
The gravity of issues at stake makes UNEA-6 one of the most consequential gatherings on the environmental calendar.
As the countdown to UNEA-6 continues, all signs indicate an event that could prove pivotal for global environmental diplomacy and action.