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Tackling climate change, biodiversity loss top agenda as UNEA-6 starts in Nairobi

The sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) at the United Nations Environment Programme headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya on February 26, 2024. (Photo: UNEP)

By Amina Wako | 26 Feb 2024

A key focus on the agenda is the increase in wasteful and fuel-intensive plastics, a major contributor to the climate crisis.

The sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) is underway at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Over 5,000 delegates from 193 United Nations Member States, including Heads of State and Government, are attending the five-day assembly that aims to tackle critical environmental issues and shape sustainable global policies.

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The theme guiding discussions at UNEA-6 is "effective, inclusive, and sustainable multilateral actions to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution."

The assembly will conclude with a ministerial declaration outlining the way forward on these pressing matters.

A key focus on the agenda is the increase in wasteful and fuel-intensive plastics, a major contributor to the climate crisis.

Scientists argue that over 99 per cent of plastic comes from fossil fuels, which are responsible for 86 per cent of CO2 emissions in the past decade.

To combat this, UNEA-6 will discuss the need for a binding Plastics Treaty and a Fossil Fuel Treaty, targeting the root causes of both the plastics pollution crisis and the climate crisis by phasing out oil, gas, and coal production.

As the host nation, Kenya will emphasise its commitment to multilateralism.

Warm welcome to Nairobi for the over 5,000 delegates from the 193 UN Member States, including Heads of State and Government, attending this year's 6th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) starting this morning at the UN Complex in Gigiri. pic.twitter.com/7XW7Ns33q4
— Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Forestry (@Environment_Ke) February 26, 2024

According to Kenya's Ministry of Environment, the country has ratified several multilateral environmental agreements, aiming to strengthen actions for environmental protection and sustainable development.

The global context of UNEA-6 is significant, as the world faces unprecedented environmental challenges affecting every corner of the planet. UNEA, as the highest-level decision-making body for environmental matters, is poised to address critical issues with a primary focus on the triple planetary crisis: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

UNEA-6 aims to be a beacon of hope and a forum for global collaboration, bringing together diverse stakeholders, including governments, civil society, scientists, and the private sector. The assembly aims to catalyse transformative actions that transcend borders, positively impacting present and future generations.