Roundup: Global environment assembly renews commitment to green, inclusive growth

The second edition of United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA2) entered the homestretch on Thursday with dignitaries renewing the call for concerted efforts to hasten low carbon and inclusive economic growth.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Jan Eliasson were among dignitaries who attended the high level segment of UNEA2 in Nairobi.

In his opening remarks, Kenyatta stressed that transition to low carbon development was not an option but an imperative to help solve pressing challenges like poverty, hunger, disease and natural calamities.

"There is a global consensus on the need to place environmental sustainability at the heart of development policies and programs," Kenyatta remarked.

An estimated 2,500 delegates from 170 UN member states who include ministers, policymakers, industry executives and campaigners are attending the global environment assembly that ends on Friday.

This year's UN environment assembly devoted attention to delivery of sustainable development goals (SDGs) and Paris climate deal.

Delegates discussed a range of pressing environmental challenges that includes ocean pollution, chemical waste and illegal trade in wildlife species.

The Kenyan leader said that prudent management of natural capital will hasten achievement of the 17 sustainable development goals adopted by UN member states in September last year.

"Half of the SDGs have a direct link to environmental sustainability and this calls for appropriate investments and policies to safeguard our natural wealth," said Kenyatta.

He warned that climate change imperiled the green and sustainability agenda hence the need to revitalize efforts to combat this phenomenon.

The second edition of UN environment assembly will adopt resolutions that will mark a new milestone in green and inclusive development.

Jan Eliasson, the UN Deputy Secretary General said UNEA2 will chart a new beginning in the actualization of landmark agreements adopted last year to accelerate low carbon and inclusive growth.

"This assembly will be a crucial platform to elevate the environmental dimension of SDGs. Our path is clear and now is the time to move from aspirations to actions," Eliasson remarked.

He urged UN member states to enact policies that would build the resilience of their economies in the face of climatic shocks.

Delegates attending the global environment assembly will adopt resolutions that would re-energize efforts to combat ecosystems depletion, extreme poverty, hunger and resource based conflicts.

The President of UNEA2 who is also the environment and energy minister of Costa Rica, Edgar Gutierrez said the assembly will inject fresh vitality in global efforts to halt biodiversity loss, depletion of watersheds and ocean pollution. Endit