3rd session UN Environment Assembly (UNEA 3) kicks off in Nairobi

The third session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA 3), is currently underway at UN Environment’s headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

World leaders, government officials, civil society and environmental activists are expected to make an appearance at the three day event running from December 4 – 6, 2017 under the overarching theme, “Towards a Pollution Free Planet”.

Some of the high profile guests at the Assembly includes former Indian and US astronauts Rakesh Sharma and Mae Jemison, NASA's chief climate scientist Paul Newman, international singer Ellie Goulding, Bollywood actress Dia Mirza, Chinese billionaire and environmental activist Wang Wenbiao and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change head Patricia Espinosa.

The Assembly which represents the world’s highest-level of decision-making body on the environment will culminate in resolutions and a global call to action to address the critical environmental challenges facing the world today.

The event comes at a time when effects of global warming and environmental degradation caused by pollution is more pronounce than ever and the assembly hopes to put an end to the pollution of air, land, waterways and oceans and to safely manage chemicals and waste.

It is imperative therefore for African governments and the world to prioritize environmental conservation and allocate more funds in the cause.

In highlighting this cause the UN Environment, is banking on the participation of leaders of Civil Society, including from all major groups but in particular encouraging youth, women, farmers and indigenous peoples representatives to join hands on this path alongside heads of United Nations sister organizations, programmes and treaty bodies.

Only through active involvement and participation can the Environment Assembly become the major platform for international environmental governance that it is meant to be.