Nairobi, 18 May 2016 - UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner called on the Nairobi County Governor, Dr. Evans Kidero, at City Hall today to discuss the preparations for the second United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2), which will be held in Nairobi beginning next week. UNEA-2 will draw over 2,000 participants from over 170 countries to Nairobi over the course of next week, including government Ministers, civil society and private sector leaders. They will gather at UNEP headquarters in Gigiri to help set the global environmental agenda and chart the course for delivering the Sustainable Development Goals and implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The Executive Director highlighted the important role that Nairobi and Kenya have played not just in the first UNEA and the one to come, but their overall contribution to the growth of UNEP over its history. Mr. Steiner said, "Nairobi has played host to UNEP for 44 years and has embraced its status as the environment capital of the world. With over 2,300 participants expected next week, UNEA-2 is a testament to the strong role Nairobi and Kenya play in the history and future of sustainable development."
Nairobi County Governor Dr. Evans Kidero lauded the longstanding friendship between Nairobi and UNEP. He said, "Nairobi has long been a meeting point for Kenya and the region. Our long and mutually beneficial relationship with UNEP and the UN community here have allowed Nairobi to develop into a gathering place for the world. We look forward to once again welcoming the international community to Nairobi to set the global environmental agenda."
The Cabinet Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources, Judi Wakhungu, said, "Kenya is on the front lines of sustainable development, and our challenges and successes here can inform the global environmental agenda. UNEA is a critical part of bringing the Kenyan experience to the international community, and moving the world toward achieving the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda.
UNEA takes place from 23-27 May at the UN complex in Gigiri. Topics to be discussed include the SDGs, climate change, marine litter, the illegal trade in wildlife, among many other critical environmental issues. For more information, please visit: http://www.myunea.org/
