(RECAST) Ministers Agree to Enhance UNEP to Battle Environmental Threats
(RECAST) Ministers agree to enhance UNEP to battle environmental threats
NAIROBI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) — Environment ministers from more than 100 countries wrapped up a five-day meeting in Nairobi Friday with an agreement to strengthen the scientific base of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to make it more proactive in battling threats to the survival of humanity.
The meeting also agreed on the need to help Africa in its efforts to combat the adverse effects of climate change and reiterated its stand that the world headquarters of UNEP will remain in Nairobi, on African soil, where threats to the environment and climate change are becoming more pronounced.
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said the 24th session of the Governing Council, bringing together ministers of environment, brought together 1000 delegates and passed 16 decisions to strengthen environmental governance.
“We have agreed on the overall strengthening with a strong mandate to bring scientific issues to the attention of the policy- makers,” Steiner told a closing press conference.
He said the ministers also agreed to increase UNEP’s budget by 6 percent and increase the contributions made to UNEP through member states annual contributions to the UN.
“The conclusion is that UNEP must do a better job and take up the issue of climate change,” Steiner said.
He said the organization would become more responsible in environmental management following the passing of the decision to strengthen its scientific base. This, he said, would enable it to effectively become a watchdog institution of the world.
Roberto Dobles, president of the 24th Governing Council, said the ministers also agreed on a number of issues, including the implementation of a water strategy.
“We took a lot of decisions of importance to environmental matters. We are sending a strong message that environmental protection is important. We have also given UNEP a robust future,” said Dobles, who is also Costa Rica’s Environment and Energy Minister.
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