Malawi has joined over 100 countries at the first session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) which has been inaugurated in Nairobi, Kenya, the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The Environment Assembly becomes the universal body and replaces the Governing Council, which had limited members.
Over 1 200 delegates at the assembly will deliberate the broader theme of Sustainable Development Goals including the post-2015 Development Agenda focusing on sustainable consumption and production as well as illegal trade in wildlife and timber.
Among the high-level dignitaries expected to address the assembly are Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki Moon.
Malawi is represented at the assembly by Malawi High Commissioner to Kenya Retired Brigadier General Marcel Chirwa who is the Permanent Representative to UNEP and PS for Environment and Climate Change Management Dr. Yanira Ntupanyama.
Chirwa said he is optimistic that the Malawi delegation will advance Malawi’s interests at the first-ever assembly since environment remains a cross-cutting issue in the socio-economic development of a country.
There are a number of side events planned prominent ones being a Symposium on Environment Rule of Law and Financing a Green Economy, improving air quality in African cities and illegal trade in wildlife and timber which seeks to bring to the world’s attention the deteriorating situation of poaching and destruction of indigenous natural resources.
Malawi has one of the largest man-made forests,Chikangawa, in the Northern Region which is on the verge of extinction owing to wanton cutting down of trees without replanting and wild fires that have in the past destroyed a good part of the forest. Chikangawa supplies most of the timber in the country.
The Malawi Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Nairobi, which is accredited to UNEA has been on the fore of the preparations for the assembly since the mission was reopened in March 2013. The mission has registered its presence in all stages in the build up to the assembly, which runs from June 23-27 2014.
The assembly is also expected to elect officers who will constitute the bureau of the assembly
The assembly is also expected to elect officers who will constitute the bureau of assembly. These will be one president, eight Vice Presidents and one Rapporteur.
In his remarks, Chirwa said the mission will ensure that Malawi continues to benefit from the outcome of the assembly. The assembly will next convene in 2016.—Sellina Nkowani is reporting from Nairobi Kenya
