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Kenya to host UN Environment Assembly in May

Xinhua, February 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

The 2nd edition of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) will be held in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi from May 23-27, the UN Environment Program (UNEP) announced Tuesday.

The UN environment agency said the assembly will focus on promoting the green agenda in line with sustainable development goals (SDGs) and Paris climate deal adopted by the international community last year.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said the second edition of the global environment assembly would offer the world's governments an opportunity to chart a new future that is prosperous, inclusive and ecologically sound.

"2016 has been called the year for implementation and delivery.UNEA-2 is our chance to show the world UNEP's readiness and commitment to achieving sustainable development goals through our program of work," Steiner said in a statement.

The inaugural United Nations Environment Assembly was held in Nairobi in June 2014 following a unanimous decision by UN member states to upgrade UNEP status.

Representatives from governments, multilateral agencies, private sector and civil society will discuss a range of topics like poaching, ocean pollution and chemical waste during the global environment assembly in May.

Delegates will also discuss viable financing options to hasten the transition to a low carbon development.

"UNEA will also consider the new stakeholder engagement policy, which will help to determine how civil society will be able to contribute in solving urgent environmental challenges and take advantage of environmental opportunities," the statement said.

It added that UNEA-2 will strengthen science, policy and industry dialogue in order to find lasting solutions to poverty, climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and chemical waste.