ROLE OF UN ENVIRONMENT

IN ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
GROUP 9
UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL
DIVERSITY
ENFORCEMENT ROLES
 To promote the sustainable utilization of biodiversity products.
 To create an enabling environment for biodiversity conservation by improving national capacity
and strengthening regulatory mechanisms.
 To promote awareness in biodiversity conservation.
 To promote and enhance the conservation of biodiversity through in-site and restorative
procedures.
 To strengthen research and monitoring activities by improving inventories, databases and
documentation.
 To promote environment-friendly activities like ecotourism and preventive activities like
environmental impact assessments.
EFFECTIVENESS
 The GEF Capacity Development Initiative is helping to raise greater awareness about land
degradation. It is aimed at examining the capacity development needs with respect to
biodiversity, climate change, and land degradation.
 The Africa Land and Water Initiative is also providing opportunities to further develop projects
that include land degradation prevention and control elements.
 To incorporate local knowledge into integrated land and water management.
 The Kenya Forestry Master Plan, 1994 (1995-2020) contains various implementation strategies
being supported by various donors and have targeted conservation of indigenous forests and
their biodiversity.
UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON COMBATING
DESERTIFICATION
ENFORCEMENT ROLES
 Improving living conditions for people in dry lands.
 Maintaining and restoring land and soil productivity.
 Mitigating the effects of drought.
 Promoting cooperation among the affected parties.
EFFECTIVENESS
 Policies to guide action have been adopted by governments.
 Has raised awareness on desertification, drought and land degradation.
 Has collected concrete facts and data on desertification land degradation and drought.
 Expanded science and knowledge base through Economics of Land Degradation initiative.
UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE
CHANGE

ENFORCEMENT ROLES
 Keep the global average temperature rise this century as close as possible to 1.5 degrees
Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
 Stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
 Facilitating the intergovernmental climate change negotiations.
 Supports the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action.
EFFECTIVENESS
The Government of Kenya has moved to implement a number of actions in the NCCAP,
including improved drought management and promotion of renewable energy. The Ministry of
Planning and Devolution (MOPD) has included indicators to track progress in mainstreaming
climate change in its Second Handbook of National Reporting, which helps the government
monitor progress toward the goals of the Second Medium Term Plan of Vision 2030. A
Climate Change Bill is expected to be enacted into law in 2015. This Bill includes
establishment of a National Climate Change Council that has responsibility for coordination
of climate change actions, including mainstreaming climate change in national and county
budgets, plans and programs. A draft Climate Change Framework Policy and a National
Policy on Climate Finance are expected to provide guidance on mainstreaming to national
departments and country governments.
THE STOCKHOLM CONVENTION

ENFORCEMENT ROLE
• Restrict or eliminate production and use of Persistent Organic Pollutants

EFFECTIVENESS
 Most POPs pesticides are either restricted/banned
 Introduction of BAT/BEP to reduce production
 Introduction of KEBS to combat use of POPS
 Creation of MEAs portal by NEMA to promote education of the general public on MEAs in
Kenya