United Nations Environmental Assembly Convenes in Nairobi to Address Global Environmental Crises
Nairobi is hosting the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) this week, where global leaders are gathering to deliberate on collaborative strategies to combat pressing environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
The assembly at the U.N. Environment Programme headquarters brings together representatives from governments, civil society groups, scientists, and the private sector. Leila Benali, the president of this year's assembly, emphasised the need for tangible actions that make a difference in people's lives, urging participants to work collectively towards delivering a cleaner, greener, and safer future for all.
Kenya's Environment Minister, Soipan Tuya, highlighted this assembly's opportunity to inject optimism and restore faith in the global environmental governance system.
Inger Andersen, UNEP's executive director, emphasised humanity's interconnectedness, stating, "None of us live on an island. We live on planet Earth, and we are all connected. We can only solve some of these problems by talking together."
During the last UNEA session in 2022, held in Nairobi, governments adopted 14 resolutions, including the commitment to create a legally binding instrument to address global plastic pollution. Andersen hailed it as the most significant environmental multilateral deal since the Paris Agreement on limiting global warming.
This year, discussions will revolve around 19 draft resolutions covering various environmental issues. Proposed resolutions include measures to restore degraded lands, combat dust storms, and reduce the environmental impact of metal and mineral mining.
According to Andersen, despite differing national priorities, there is a general sense of "forward movement" in all draft resolutions. The emphasis on multilateralism aims to build on prior agreements spearheaded by UNEP, such as the Montreal Protocol and the Minamata Convention on mercury control, to address ozone layer depletion.
Björn Beeler, the International Coordinator for the International Pollutants Elimination Network, anticipates slow progress on complex issues like financing chemicals and waste. Additionally, he anticipates fierce opposition to a draft resolution that Ethiopia and Uruguay co-sponsored that sought to gradually phase out the use of highly hazardous pesticides.
UNEP expects over 7,000 attendees at UNEA-6, which will conclude on Friday. Andersen emphasised the importance of decision-makers taking preemptive action to prevent potential damage to the planet, underscoring the significance of the assembly in shaping global environmental policies.