The World Turns to Nairobi to Renew Hope for The Planet as UNEA-6 Kicks Off

The United Nations Environmental Assembly, the world's top decision-making body on the environment kicked off its sixth session on Monday in Nairobi, Kenya. Kenya's CS for Environment, Soipan Tuya, said that over 5000 delegates from the 193 UN member states will participate in the 6th session of the UN Environment Assembly. This will include Heads of State and Governments, ministers, vice-ministers, experts, activists and industry reps. 

UNEA was created in 2012, as an outcome of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Brazil. The UN Environmental Programme(UNEP) in Nairobi is the only UN headquarters in the global south. 

All 193 UN member states convene every two years to collectively address critical challenges facing the planet. Since its inception, the Assembly has initiated a new phase of multilateralism, elevating environmental issues to equal standing alongside global priorities like peace, security, and health.

The meeting comes at a time when the world is facing triple planetary threats that are: climate change, pollution and waste and biodiversity loss. The theme of the 6th UNEA is "Effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution". 

CS Tuya is spearheading discussions in these critical issues. She said the meeting will build on the outcome of last year's inaugural Africa Climate Summit. 

"As the world's highest environmental decision-making body, UNEA can address these issues through collective thinking and global actions that focus on diverse aspects of the environment," she said in a press release to the local dailies. 

Member states have pledged commitments in international agreements but have neglected to fulfill them, resulting in devastating consequences such as droughts, floods, and pollution, impacting the global community. The most impoverished and vulnerable nations, like Kenya, bear the brunt of climate emergencies such as soaring temperatures and heatwaves experienced in Nairobi and beyond, largely due to the actions of major greenhouse gas emitters, pollution, and biodiversity destruction.

Nearly a million species are on a trajectory toward extinction, 2023 witnessed unprecedented global temperature records, and pollution persists as one of the primary contributors to premature mortality worldwide.

UNEA-6 President Leila Benali.

"We are living in a time of turmoil. And I know that in this room, there are people who are, or who know, those deeply affected by this turmoil. Our response must demonstrate that multilateral diplomacy can deliver," said Leila Benali, who is president of UNEA-6. 

"As we meet here in 2024, we must be self-critical and work towards inclusive, networked and effective multilateralism that can make a tangible difference to people's lives," added Benali, who is also Morocco's Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development.

She went to say that no one should be left behind in showing that multilateral diplomacy can deliver, urging the record-breaking participants to restore trust in multilateralism and humanity. 

Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of UNEP echoed these sentiments in her opening remarks: "The world is watching, and we need that unity to safeguard planet earth". 

"It is time to lay political differences aside and focus on this little blue planet, teeming with life. Time to lift our sights to our common goal: a pathway to a sustainable and safe future," she added. " We do this by agreeing on the resolutions before UNEA-6 to boost multilateral action for today and tomorrow, and secure intergenerational justice and equity."

Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Soipan Tuya addressing the delegates at the 6th UNEA.

Soipan Tuya on her part had this call.

"UNEA-6 comes at a time when the world is also called upon to accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda if we are to stay on course on sustainable development. Unfortunately, for millions in the developing regions of the world, including here in Africa, poverty still remains a daily reality while economic inequality is increasing globally".

"It is against this backdrop that the world will be looking to us here in Nairobi this week to renew hope. And hope we must provide."

The Assembly is scheduled to host over 30 official side events and affiliated gatherings, concluding on March 1st.