Sixth United Nations Environment Assembly Kicks off in Nairobi.

By Samuel Ouma

The sixth edition of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) officially kicked off at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

The event brings together more than 5,000 delegates from the 193 United Nations Member States, including Heads of State and Government.

The 5-day UNEA-6  theme is "effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution".

UNEA-6 will focus on how collaborative international efforts can address the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and waste.

The Assembly will serve as a platform for global governments, civil society organizations, the scientific community, and the private sector to influence and shape international environmental policies backed by strong scientific findings, political determination, and active participation from various stakeholders.

As the only inclusive global forum dedicated to environmental issues, the UNEA provides an unparalleled platform for making bold decisions and introducing innovative ideas to develop a comprehensive strategy for collective environmental initiatives.

Through these efforts, UNEA-6 hopes to contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals.

UNEA-6 was preceded by a meeting of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives, held from February 19 to 23, 2024, which helped lay the groundwork for the Assembly.