UN meeting draws global ministers

Green assembly opens in Nairobi in shadow of deadly crash in Ethiopia

United Nations Environment Assembly opened on Monday with calls for immediate global actions to reverse mega-trends that are causing species extinction, compromising planetary integrity and the earth's capacity to meet rising human needs.

The assembly, opened in Nairobi under the shadow of the Ethiopia Airlines crash that killed 157 people, including at least 21 UN staff. It is expected to produce commitments from the global community to a more sustainable path. It is attended by over 4,700 participants from 170 countries.

"We meet at a time when major scientific assessments such as the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6) to be endorsed at this assembly are highlighting that we have reached a crucial tipping point," said Assembly President Siim Kiisler, who is also Estonia's environment minister.

In the draft ministerial declaration, Kiisler is calling on member states to define national targets for reducing waste generation, increasing the reuse of products and recycling of waste and to significantly reduce single-use plastic products by 2030.

He said major species extinctions, compromising planetary integrity and the earth's capacity to meet human needs, are unfolding and mega-trends are being established.

"Our planet is increasingly polluted, affected by the adverse effects of climate change, quickly losing its biodiversity and experiencing widespread environmental degradation," he said.

Over the last four years, Kiisler said news about flash floods, droughts, violent hurricanes, sand and dust storms, accompanied by tragic loss of human lives have been familiar across the globe.

"Unless we take action now, we will not be able to reverse these mega-trends, thereby protecting human and environmental health and maintaining current and future integrity of global ecosystems. Consequently, many of the sustainable development goals will not be met," Kiisler said.

He said 2 billion people worldwide lack access to solid waste collection services, while 64 million people are directly affected by uncontrolled dumping and open burning at dump sites. Additionally, 8 million tons of plastics enter the ocean every year.

'Time to take action'

Kiisler said this year's environment assembly, which runs until Friday, embodies the notion that challenges are best realized when the community of nations join forces to promote economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental sustainability in a holistic manner.

Joyce Msuya, acting executive director of the UN Environment Programme, said it's time to take action to protect people and the planet.

"It is clear that we need to transform the way we live, how we produce and the choices we make. We have grown at the expense of nature and it is time to take a 360 degree U-turn," she said.

A report published by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change last year urged quick, drastic reductions in climate-warming emissions. A later UN Environment's Emissions Gap Report concluded that to avoid a rise of more than 1.5 C in global temperatures, there is need to step up current climate efforts fivefold.

To address that challenge, Msuya said there is need to move quickly to a low-carbon, green economy that by 2050 reduces fossil fuel use by 80 percent.

She said the presence of almost 100 environment ministers in the assembly demonstrates that political will is not in short supply.

"Partnerships will be the glue that bind us together because a healthy planet depends on us all," she said.

edithmutethya@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/13/2019 page12)