Ulaanbaatar: The Principal Secretary (PS) for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno, has applauded the Kenyan delegation attending COP 17 from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies for their dedication and commitment in promoting Kenya’s national interests. He emphasized the significance of Kenya’s preparation and participation in the conference to further national objectives.
According to Kenya News Agency, during a meeting with the delegation on the sidelines of the UNCCD COP17 on combating desertification in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Dr. Ng’eno also praised the delegation for advocating Africa’s priorities at the conference. He highlighted the necessity of translating global decisions into national-level implementations to achieve robust outcomes.
In a press statement, Dr. Ng’eno underscored Kenya’s leadership in global environmental governance, stressing the need for a coordinated government approach to advance Kenya’s interests. He outlined key areas of focus for Kenya, including discussions on drought and the adoption of a drought protocol supported by the Africa group, the UNCCD budget and financial outlook, and the future strategic framework. These discussions aim to ensure that Africa’s and Kenya’s interests are prioritized, addressing land tenure, gender matters, predictable funding for Convention implementation, and strengthening the Committee on Science and Technology’s role in providing scientific evidence for guiding Convention implementation.
Dr. Ng’eno expressed his congratulations to Kenya for its leadership role in the Committee on the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) over the past two years and its nomination to lead the Africa Group in the Committee on Science and Technology (CST) for the next two years.
He further highlighted the upcoming High-Level Ministerial segment, where the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry will participate to provide leadership. Dr. Ng’eno urged delegates to remain coordinated and strategically flexible, maintaining clear positions on issues of national importance throughout the conference.
Additionally, the PS encouraged delegates to ensure that COP 17 outcomes reflect Kenya’s interests and Africa’s broader priorities under the Convention. He called on all delegates to utilize meetings and side events to learn global best practices in rangeland management, restoration of degraded landscapes, drought preparedness, sustainable pastoral production systems, community participation, livelihood restoration, and the application of science and technology in monitoring land degradation and restoration. These learnings should be translated into actionable strategies at both national and community levels.
