The Principal Secretary (PS) for Environment and Climate Change Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno has commended and appreciated the Kenya delegation attending COP 17 from different Ministries, Departments and Agencies for their dedication and commitment and emphasized the importance of Kenya’s preparation and participation in the COP to promote Kenya’s national interest.
During the meeting with the delegation on the sidelines of UNCCD COP17 on combating desertification in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, the PS also commended the team for advancing Africa’s priorities in the COP so that strong outcomes can be realised and the importance of translating the global decisions into implementation at a national level.
In a press statement to newsrooms, Dr. Ng’eno highlighted Kenya’s leadership in global environmental governance and reiterated the promotion of whole-of-government coordination in advancing Kenya’s national interest.
Notably, he outlined some of the key interests for Kenya, particularly on the discussions on drought and the adoption of a drought protocol advocated for by the Africa group; the UNCCD budget and financial outlook and the financial implications; the future strategic framework to ensure that Africa’s and Kenya’s interests are reflected; land tenure; gender matters; more predictable funding for the Convention’s implementation; and strengthening the role of the Committee on Science and Technology in providing robust scientific evidence and data to guide the implementation of the Convention, among others.
“Congratulations to Kenya for leading Africa in the Committee on the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) for the last two years and on its nomination to lead the Africa Group in the Committee on Science and Technology (CST) in the next two years,” expressed the PS.
Furthermore, Dr. Ngeno pointed out the High-Level Ministerial segment where the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry would join and offer leadership and, at the same time, urged the delegates to remain coordinated and strategically flexible throughout the conference while maintaining clear positions on the issues of national importance.
In addition, the PS also encouraged the delegates to ensure that the outcomes of COP 17 reflect Kenya’s interests and Africa’s broader priorities under the Convention.
Ultimately, he called on all delegates to leverage on the several meetings and side events to learn best practices from around the globe on management of rangelands and pastoralism; restoration of degraded landscapes and ecosystems; drought preparedness, resilience, and early action; sustainable pastoral production systems; community participation; restoring livelihoods; and the application of science and technology in monitoring land degradation and restoration that can be translated into action at national and community levels.
By Michael Omondi
