•The United Nations Environment Assembly find innovative solutions for environmental challenges.
•Society needs sustainable life cycles for products with enhanced productivity and efficiency
Delegates attending the fourth United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi were yesterday reminded of their immense responsibilities to move towards sustainable and resilient societies.
"An outcome from this Assembly must speak to each and every country and inspire citizens to become more aware of the challenges and solutions to the health of our planet, and embark on more sustainable lifestyles," Siim Kiisler, the president of the forum told the more than 4,700 delegates at Gigiri
Kiisler described the agenda of the Assembly - Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and Production - as "heavy with many important decisions to be made."
"I urge all of us to engage positively and openly in the deliberations, "Kinsler said.
Environment CS Keriako Tobiko said elimination of wastage and pollution were a priority and that innovation is needed for sustainable production and consumption.
"Society needs sustainable life cycles for products with enhanced productivity and efficiency. We should actively apply indigenous, local and traditional knowledge. Global partnerships in research, development, and investments are key to catalyse this progress," Tobiko said.
The CS said climate change presents a significant existential challenge to humanity.
Kenya submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution in 2015 and ratified the Paris Agreement.
Other laws that the country has in place include the Climate Change Act and a Climate Change Policy.
Tobiko said Kenya is exploring ways to address challenges in solid waste management in major cities like Nairobi and Mombasa.
"We are pursuing re-use and recycling of appropriate solid waste while installing sanitary landfills. We are pursuing innovative investments, such as capturing landfill methane gas for electric power generation, which also contributes to the reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions," he said.
Kenya, in 2017, banned the manufacture, import, sale and use of plastic carrier bags. But more needs to be done as single-use plastics manifest unsustainable production and consumption the world over, Tobiko said.
"These include plastic water bottles, consumer goods plastic containers (such as cosmetics, toothpaste), plastic cutlery, and drinking straws."
Acting executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme Joyce Msuya said "there is a need to transform the way we live, how we produce and the choices we make".
Msuya cited the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report released a report saying that we must quickly and drastically reduce our climate-warming emissions.
A few weeks after IPCC report, UN Environment’s Emissions Gap Report concluded that, in order to avoid a rise of more than 1.5°C in global temperatures, we need to step up climate action five times.