Fifty-four African Ministers of Environment, representatives of Civil Society Organisations, and donor partners are meeting in Kenya to come out with strategies, plans and investments required to implement innovative environmental solutions.
The meeting which is the 7th Special Session of African Ministerial Conference on the Environment has the theme “Turning Environmental Policies into Action Through Innovative Solutions”.
The conference which started September 17 will also provide an opportunity for the continent to prepare to the conference of parties, COP 14 to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity scheduled to take place in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt in November 2018.
The outcome of the AMCEN Special Session will shape Africa’s position and inputs into the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA 4) next year.
It will also focus on Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and Production.
The Regional Director of UN Environment Programme Africa, Juliette Koudenoukpo commended AMCEN for taking policy reform directions to promote and strengthen innovative and environmentally sound actions that can ensure sustainable use of the continent’s natural resources.
Ecosystem degradation is estimated to cost Africa $68 billion annually while post-harvest losses are estimated at $48 billion.
Story by Joyce Gyekye
