4-6 December 2017, Nairobi, Kenya. Attended by over 4000 personnel working on environmental issues, the 3rd session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-3) focused on the theme “Towards a Pollution-Free Planet” and successfully became the first UNEA to issue a Declaration by environmental ministers. The Declaration stated that nations would honor efforts to prevent, mitigate and manage all forms of pollution.
“Today we have put the fight against pollution high on the global political agenda,” said Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment in the official press-release after the Assembly. “We have a long struggle ahead of us, but the summit showed there is a real appetite for significant positive change. It isn’t just about the UN and governments, though. The massive support we have seen from civil society, businesses and individuals – with millions of pledges to end pollution – show that this is a global challenge with a global desire to win this battle together.”
Out of the 13 Resolutions passed to address various types of pollution, one was on marine litter and microplastics. Of relevance to the NOWPAP, the resolution encouraged Member states to establish harmonized standards and methodologies for measuring marine litter and microplastics and to implement action plans for preventing marine litter and microplastics, encouraging resource efficiency, including prevention and increasing collection and recycling rates of plastic waste and re-design and re-use of products, materials and avoiding the unnecessary use of plastic and plastic containing chemicals of particular concern where appropriate.
Also at UNEA-3 was the presentation of the UN’s highest environmental award, the Champions of the Earth Award. Three out of the six award winners are from P.R. China.
Mobike, the world’s largest smart bike-sharing company, was awarded for expanding bike sharing as an alternative to motorized transport and avoiding CO2 emissions equivalent to 1.24 million cars off the road per year.
Saihanba Afforestation Community has increased forest cover in Saihanba at the southern edge of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region from 11.4% to 80% since they started their afforestation in 1962. The planted forests now supply clean water to the Chinese capital and Tianjin areas.
Wang Wenbiao, Chairman of Elion Resources Group received the award for taking leadership in combating desertification in Inner Mongolia. The project is a prime example of how private companies can generate profits while making important contribution to sustainable development.
