Nairobi, 10 May 2016 - In advance of the forthcoming second United Nations Environment Assembly, UN Environment Programme Executive Director Achim Steiner was welcomed to the Kenyan State House in Nairobi today by President Uhuru Kenyatta. The visit allowed Mr. Steiner to brief President Kenyatta on the preparations for UNEA 2, which will see over 1,700 participants from 155 countries meet at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi from May 23-27.
UNEA is the global Parliament for the Environment, where the world gathers to set the global environmental agenda every two years. President Kenyatta used the opportunity to bid farewell to Mr. Steiner, who will leave his post this June after ten years of leadership at UNEP. Speaking about UNEA 2, President Kenyatta said, "The response by participants including delegations from member states and major groups and stakeholders has been extremely encouraging. The overwhelming response reflects the fact that the assembly has a truly universal character.
"I believe the assembly will provide an ideal forum for delegations to deliberate and chart the environmental agenda, particularly the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, said President Kenyatta, who will address the opening session of the High Level Ministerial segment of UNEA 2." Mr. Steiner said, "I thank President Kenyatta and all of Kenya for their unflagging support both of UNEP and the forthcoming UNEA 2.
For over four decades, Kenyans have graciously hosted UNEP's world headquarters in Nairobi. Together we have seen UNEP's voice and stature grow over the years, culminating in the Rio+20 Summit decision by Heads of State and Government to strengthen and upgrade UNEP. "Many of the world's flagship agreements on the environment were initiated here at UNEP's offices in Gigiri. And later this month, Kenya will again welcome the world's environmental leaders when they gather in Nairobi to set the global environmental agenda and address key issues including air quality, armed conflict and the environment, marine pollution, the illegal wildlife trade, and implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate."
