UN Environment News

Central Asia United with UN Partners for Healthy Environment

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen delivered a keynote at the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan on April 22, 2026, calling for enhanced regional environmental collaboration across Central Asia. The speech highlighted shared challenges including accelerating temperature rise, biodiversity loss, shrinking seas, glacier melt, air pollution, and sand and dust storms. Andersen referenced existing mechanisms including the Tehran Convention for the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan's recent constitutional environmental provisions, and the new UN Regional Centre for the SDGs for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty, while urging greater action on water management, land degradation, drought, and climate.

Speech on Year of Multilateral Environmental Action

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen delivered a speech at the 173rd meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives in Nairobi, Kenya on April 20, 2026. The speech addressed environmental consequences of Middle East infrastructure destruction, including fuel facility fires releasing air pollutants and sea vessel damage causing oil spills into rivers, lakes, and marine waters. Andersen also reported on outcomes from UNEA-7, where member states adopted UNEP's Medium-Term Strategy and 11 resolutions plus three decisions. UNEP will continue monitoring and reporting on environmental issues of regional significance emerging from the conflict.

US$5.2M Initiative Launches for Nairobi Low-Carbon Urban Development

The Government of Kenya, UNEP, and UN-Habitat have launched a US$5.2 million GEF-funded initiative to transform Nairobi into a model for low-carbon, climate-resilient, and nature-positive urban development. The five-year project will pilot green neighbourhood approaches in Kamukunji, targeting improved living conditions for more than 85,000 residents along the Nairobi River corridor, backed by up to US$40 million in future government investment.