Highlights: UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi: progress slowed by lack of ambition. Out of nineteen draft resolutions submitted for negotiations, fifteen were adopted. They focus on ocean protection, waste management and land restoration. Four draft resolutions were ultimately not approved: notably those concerning solar geoengineering and the circular economy. Some especially regret that the call for a transition away from fossil fuels, approved at COP28, was not renewed in the ministerial declaration of this sixth UN assembly for the environment. Among the countries present was Somalia, whose government established its first Ministry of Environment and Climate Change two years ago.

The sixth session of the United Nations Environment Program, the highest decision-making body in the world on environmental matters, concluded Friday March 1 with the adoption of fifteen…

UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi: progress slowed by lack of ambition

The sixth session of the United Nations Environment Program, the highest decision-making body in the world on environmental matters, concluded on Friday March 1 with the adoption of fifteen draft resolutions.

Inger Andersen, executive secretary of UNEP, on November 26, 2019 in Geneva.

AP - Salvatore Di Nolfi

By: RFI Follow

End clap for the sixth United Nations

Environment

Assembly in Kenya.

Since Monday, representatives of UN member states have been negotiating climate and environmental issues.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen applauded this week's results.

According to her, they are a “

step forward in the collective effort to slow down the triple planetary crisis

”, that of climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution.

Out of nineteen draft resolutions submitted for negotiations, fifteen were adopted.

They focus on ocean protection, waste management and land restoration.

But Inger Andersen also recognized it: the talks were not always easy.

There were disagreements.

And four draft resolutions were ultimately not approved: notably those concerning solar geoengineering and the circular economy.

Delegates on site denounced a lack of ambition on the part of several governments.

Some especially regret that the call for a transition away from fossil fuels, approved at COP28, was not renewed in the ministerial declaration of this sixth UN assembly for the environment.

Finally, this week was also an opportunity for some, NGOs and government representatives, to recall the challenges of the global treaty against plastic pollution, negotiations of which are underway.

Somalia gets rid of its plastic bags

As part of this 6th session of the UNEP Assembly, Nairobi hosted the summit of cities and regions.

Member States were able to discuss how to combat climate change, the loss of nature, biodiversity, and pollution and waste.

Among the countries present was Somalia, whose government established its first Ministry of Environment and Climate Change just two years ago.

And on the occasion of this summit, Somali President Hassan Cheikh Mohamoud took the opportunity to announce the end of plastic bags in his country.

“

As for Somalia, I would like to emphasize that we have passed the climate crisis stage, we are at the climate emergency stage.

I am pleased to announce that our government is about to finalize the last points of policy measures to preserve our environment.

A key point among these measures will be the new environmental protection and management law that our government ratified last week.

And we announce to you that we plan to ban the importation, marketing and use of plastic bags.

and this from June this year.

This measure will be decisive in protecting our inhabitants and our environment from plastic pollution.

Also read: C’est pas du Vent: towards a global treaty to combat plastic pollution

UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi: progress slowed by lack of ambition

UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi: progress slowed by lack of ambition

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