The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa, has held talks with UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director, Ms. Inger Andersen, aimed at strengthening cooperation between Kenya and UNEP in advancing global environmental governance.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2). According to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, discussions focused on aligning Kenya’s national priorities with multilateral environmental agreements to achieve “sustainable outcomes for people and the planet.”
” Dr. Barasa commended UNEP’s leadership in steering the global environmental agenda” and reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to champion ambitious, inclusive, and science-based policies.” Reads the statement in part.
Ms. Andersen, on her part, lauded Kenya’s steadfast leadership in hosting UNEP and shaping international environmental discourse, including during the INC-5.2 process.The Ministry added that both leaders agreed on the importance of leveraging Kenya’s role as host of UNEP to drive global action on climate change, biodiversity protection, and pollution control. They emphasized that sustained collaboration would strengthen the delivery of environmental commitments and enhance capacity-building efforts across the continent.
Dr. Barasa was accompanied by Dr. Selly Kimosop, the Environment Secretary; Ms. Linda Kosgei, Director for Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and Mr. Tobias Ogweno from the Climate Change and Environment Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry said the meeting reaffirmed Kenya’s position as a key player in global environmental governance, noting that enhanced cooperation with UNEP would support the country’s ambition to integrate environmental sustainability into its national development agenda while contributing to international frameworks.
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