Kenya hosts UN environmental summit

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya

The second edition of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) opened in Kenya on Monday bringing ministers from 193 nations to the East African country.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the conference, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner said: "There will be many things happening throughout the week, including many new report launches on matters that either affect our environment directly or indirectly.

“For example, a new report on the growing danger from plastic in our oceans," Achim said.

Edgar Gutierrez Espeleta, Costa Rica’s environment minister, told reporters that top of his agenda will be discussions on alleviating hardship brought on by carbon emissions from the extensive use of charcoal used by many people in Kenya and Costa Rica.

"It is up to us … to come to this assembly to talk to each other to see how we can put an agenda that can help us use the budget that is available so that we can improve the lives of our people in such areas," he said.

The one-week conference has attracted over 2,000 participants.