The Sixteenth Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) will be held from June 12-16, 2017 in Libreville, Gabon, under the theme: "Investing in Innovative Environmental Solutions to accelerate implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063 in Africa".
The conference is an opportunity for ministers and experts to discuss and prepare Africa’s common position and engagement in upcoming global environmental fora such as:the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertificationto be held this September in China; the 23rd session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in November in Bonn, Germany; and the Third United Nations Environment Assembly of the UN Environment, whose theme is “Towards a Pollution Free Planet” that will take place in December 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya.
It will also be an opportunity for the Ministers to be updated on the implementation of the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative, Africa Adaptation Initiative as well as the process of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Ministers and experts will review progress made in the implementation of the decisions adopted at the fifteenth and the sixth special sessions of AMCEN, and will consider other emerging issues of interest to the region. At the end of the conference,the ministers will adopt a declaration, a set of decisions and key messages reflecting the discussions under the various agenda items.
The session will also offer an opportunity to discuss other pertinent issues, initiatives and processes related to the environment and sustainable development in the continent including Ocean Governance, implementation of the action plan on Illegal Wildlife Trade, migration and environmental security, energy, preparation for the 14th Conference of the Parties for Biodiversity, deliberations on the outcomes of the Chemicals Conventions (Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm), as well as environment and youth engagement.
The African Ministerial Conference on the Environment was established in 1985 to strengthen cooperation between African Governments in economic, technical and scientific activities with the prime objective of halting and reversing the degradation of the African environment. AMCEN has contributed significantly to heightening- policy responses of African Governments and the international community to Africa’s environmental and sustainable development challenges and opportunities.
Through its meetings, AMCEN provides guidance to governments and polic-makers on key regional policies and initiatives related to the environment and sustainable development int eh continent. Pursuant to paragraph 1 of article 9 of its Constitution, AMCEN holds its ordinary sessions once every two or three years.
For more information, please contact:
Mohamed Atani, Regional Information Officer at: mohamed.Atani@unep.org Tel. (+254) 727531253
David Ombisi: AMCEN Secretariat at: david.ombisi@unep.org
