The Kuwaiti Society for Environmental Protection participated in the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), held virtually online in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. […]
Dr. Wajdan Al-Aqab, President of the Association, said that the meeting represented a forward-looking view of the United Nations Environment Assembly resuming in 2022 and a message from the fifth session of the Assembly held online in Nairobi, Kenya, and that the meeting came to hold the first part of the session under exceptional circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Al-Aqab explained that the meeting concluded with a comprehensive statement on that forward-looking perspective, which included: “The Assembly recognizes the urgent need to continue our efforts to protect our planet even in this time of crisis. It wishes to strengthen our support for the United Nations and for multilateral cooperation, and remains convinced that collective action is essential to successfully address global challenges. It is deeply concerned about the devastating global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have new and serious health, social, economic, and environmental challenges, compounding existing challenges, particularly in developing countries, and undermining our joint efforts to eradicate poverty and achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.“.
She added that “the UN is more aware than ever that human health and well-being depend on nature and the solutions it provides, and is aware that we will face the risk of recurring pandemics in the future if we continue with our current unsustainable patterns of interaction with nature. It is deeply concerned about the continued loss of biodiversity, particularly from the degradation and fragmentation of ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and the dangers to lives and livelihoods from climate change, and from pollution, waste and poorly managed chemicals, which jeopardize our environment and our overall goal of sustainable development.”.
The President of the Environment Assembly explained that the mandate of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as the leading global environmental body that sets the global action plan for the environment and promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and acts as a vocal advocate on global environmental issues, welcomes the UNEP Medium-Term Strategy for 2022-2025 and the Programme of Work and Budget for 2022-2023. She commended UNEP for its rapid contribution to the environmental dimension of the socio-economic response to COVID-19. She noted that “UNEP, in its General Assembly, is dedicated to supporting a sustainable and inclusive recovery that protects the planet, stimulates sustainable consumption and production, revitalizes our economies, creates decent and sustainable jobs, makes real progress in eradicating poverty, and strengthens our resilience to future crises. It will intensify its efforts to implement the Addis Ababa Agenda and reaffirms the need for urgent action to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” She continued, “The Assembly It emphasizes the critical importance of making further progress in all multilateral platforms for the environment, in particular the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and negotiations on a strategic approach and sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020.
Dr. Wajdan Al-Aqab noted the “announcement of its reconvening in person to hold the resumed fifth session of the World Environment Assembly in Nairobi in early 2022 to continue our joint efforts, strengthen action for nature to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and make further progress in implementing the resolutions and decisions of previous sessions of the Environment Assembly, including on the future of the global environment outlook, marine litter, and marine microplastics.” She indicated that the UN Assembly affirmed that it would dedicate its efforts to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme under General Assembly resolution 2997 of 1972, and contribute to an impactful celebration of this anniversary in Nairobi in early 2022, and urgently calls for collective, science-based, and comprehensive action through our work and decisions at the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
