[PIO] The 6th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly concludes in Nairobi

The 6th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), held in Nairobi, Kenya between 26 February and 1 March, concluded today. This session negotiated issues related to effective, and inclusive sustainable actions to address climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and waste.

The Summit was attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Dr. Maria Panayiotou, who in her speech highlighted the important work of UNEA and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collectively addressing environmental threats, climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, taking into account the importance of effectively addressing all environmental challenges facing the planet. The Minister said that the climate crisis has "no borders" and that our inalienable right to live in a safe and healthy environment concerns everyone and requires action immediately. She referred to the environmental issues facing Cyprus such as declining rainfall and drought, desertification and threats to biodiversity and stressed that Cyprus supports collective action to address them.

Recognising the urgent need for sustainable multilateral action based on our commitments to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, Dr Panayiotou stressed Cyprus' support, as an EU Member State, to the agreed EU positions, as well as our determination to achieve the high environmental targets at the global level, priorities which are also set out in the governance programme. In particular, these concern important environmental issues such as water management, air pollution, chemical and waste management, addressing desertification and soil degradation, ocean protection, etc,

An important UNEA-6 Ministerial Declaration was also adopted, through which Governments, multilateral environmental agreements and international organizations are invited to strengthen their cooperation with the United Nations Environment Assembly to effectively and inclusively implement its actions and commitments.

The next session of the United Nations Environment Assembly - UNEA-7 will be held in Kenya