Off the wire
• China Focus: Microsoft's upgrade push irritates Chinese users  • China's forest cover to reach 23 pct by 2020, says UN report  • Georgia celebrates 25th anniversary of Independence Day  • Chinese leaders extend condolences over Sri Lanka's disaster  • Cambodian court requests police to arrest deputy opposition leader  • Spanish police seize illegal ivory in Madrid home  • AfDB develops action plan to transform agriculture sector  • Spanish stock market falls 0.50 pct, closes at 9,079 points  • Norway's total investments expected to decline in 2016, 2017  • South Africa on path to recovery: minister  
You are here: 　 Home

UN deputy chief launches Kenya's climate change promotional stamps

Xinhua, May 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson on Thursday welcomed Kenya's efforts to popularize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the latest set of development strategies aiming to fight global poverty, by launching a new set of stamps highlighting effects of climate change.

"Everyone who licks these stamps would be reminded of (17) goals. The S-word would be a reminder of the sustainable goals and the Paris climate agreement. We have laid the foundation for action but they will only become meaningful if they become a reality," Eliasson said in Nairobi.

Kenya's foreign affairs Cabinet Secretary for foreign affairs, Amina Mohammed, described the launch of the new set of stamps by the Postal Corporation of Kenya as "a showcase of what can be achieved when organizations work together on combating climate change."

The two officials spoke at the launch of the stamps, which show the depth of climate change on areas in Kenya, including the reducing amount the areas covered by the snow on Mount Kenya.

Eliasson said the stamps represented a "serious" effort to highlight the need to conserve the environment while also conceding to the demands for economic development.

Earlier, Eliasson told the opening session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) the achievement of the 2030 agenda, required countries to work together on a comprehensive approach to dealing with the environmental challenges.

"We must mobilize a broad spectrum of partners, build bridges to other functional areas and work horizontally rather than vertically in silos. We need to counter the vested interests and change the entrenched attitudes," Eliasson told the ministers and delegates attending the summit.

Sid Chartterjee, the UN Resident Coordinator, said the stamps represented an important step toward championing the SDGs, which attracted one of the largest number of signatories of any UN events.

At the UNEA talks, Eliasson said the delegates should also approach their responsibilities with courage, foresight and wisdom. "Your decisions will have profound and lasting consequences," Eliasson observed. Endit