Editor's Review

The visiting delegates are from 193 countries around the world.

The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has had a beehive of activities as different Presidents and high-profile delegates arrived in the country. 

According to the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Soipan Tuya, over 5,000 delegates are convening in Nairobi for a special meeting organised by the United Nations (UN).

The visiting delegates are from 193 countries around the world who are members of the United Nations. The Heads of State are attending the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

"Warm welcome to Nairobi for the over 5,000 delegates from the 193 UN Member States, including Heads of State and Government, attending this year's 6th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) starting this morning at the UN Complex in Gigiri," the Ministry announced. 

File image of CS Soipan Tuya. PHOTO | COURTESY

"The 5-day UNEA-6 will discuss a wide array of subjects guided by the theme, of effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, the triple planetary crisis, and conclude with a Ministerial Declaration on the way forward." 

On his part, CS Tuya applauded the UN for picking Kenya as the venue for that high-profile meeting. She vowed to provide the required government support for its success. 

"As Kenya, we are proud to welcome to Nairobi delegates from the 193 UN member states including the Heads of State and Government for the 6th Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) from 26th February to 1st March 2024," she stated.

As the world’s top decision-making body on the environment, UNEA aims to help restore harmony between humanity and nature, improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people. 

UNEA-6 will focus on how multilateralism can help tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Backed by strong science, political resolve, and engagement with society, the Assembly will be an opportunity for world governments, civil society groups, the scientific community, and the private sector to shape the global environmental policy.