Kenya joins world in marking World Environment Day
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E-mail Xinhua, June 7, 2012
Kenya joined the global community in marking the World Environment Day on Tuesday amid calls for concerted efforts to promote Green Economy in the east African nation.
The celebrations were held in the two cities of Nairobi and Mombasa on Tuesday as government officials decried lack of efforts to achieve the 10 percent forest cover required like other developed countries.
During the celebrations in Mombasa, environmental watchdog, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) said it has taken various regulations in an effort to promote a green economy in the east African nation.
NEMA Director General Geoffrey Wahungu said the watchdog cited environmental impact assessment and audit regulations 2003, waste management regulations, 2006 and the environmental management and co-ordination conservation of biological diversity and resources, access to genetic resources and benefit sharing of as some of the regulations which have been taken to promote green economy.
"We have also developed an award mechanism under the NEMA Green List initiative whereby, the Authority awards the best institutions that work towards efficient use of resources which contributes towards a green economy," Wahungu said during celebrations in Mombasa.
He said Nairobi has embraced green growth as a national priority to guide the country's future development and achieve climate resilience due to the belief that a green economy fosters accelerated economic development, addresses poverty eradication and improves social welfare.
Wahungu said NEMA has organized for Green expos which have provided corporate firms, government ministries and departments/ agencies, small scale enterprise firms among others to show case their green initiatives.
Climate change, which has emerged over time as the biggest threat to the survival of humanity and health of the planet, has gained significant space in international diplomatic and political interactions.
According to Wahungu, the environmental watchdog is also developing Public Private Partnerships on waste management. Mainstreaming climate change in to environmental governance.
"I urge you all when you go back to your various stations to embrace and practice various actions both at individual and corporate level that will contribute towards achieving a green economy globally," he said.
Early this year, the world's environment ministers resolved to urgently apply a three-point plan to stop environmental ruin, reverse the loss of fisheries, deforestation and revive low yielding farmlands.
The 140 environment ministers, who met in Nairobi in February for the 12th special gathering of the U.N. Environmental Programme' s (UNEP) Governing Council, expressed their worry over the continuing degradation of the environment.
A plan adapted at the end of the Feb. 20-22 Global Environment Ministers forum, sought to address the challenge of ensuring stable economic and environmental growth to the benefit of the most vulnerable people, including women.
"Many of the activities under the Green Economy approach can provide new opportunities for women to become key players in the local economy, especially in the energy, land management and water sectors," Spain's Environment Minister Federico Ramos de Armas, President of the Governing Council said.
Ministers debated the preparations for the upcoming UN talks on sustainable development, set for June in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian resort city.
These year's WED celebrations came at a time when the world faces various challenges including global warming, toxic substances and disasters.
Experts say challenges to realizing the green economy still remain in poor countries due to the lack of funds, capacity and relevant technologies.
They say part of the efforts to ensure success of Rio, was to develop concrete actions to address the pressing environmental issues facing the world.
A Kenyan government feed-in tariff introduced in 2008 to expand renewable energy power generation in the country will incentivize an estimated additional energy generation capacity of 1,300 Megawatts (MW) - more than double Kenya's present capacity.
The increased investment in renewable is also expected to trigger significant job creation through construction of power plants, grid connection and maintenance.
NEMA's board of Management chairperson Kullamo Bullo said the authority's achievements so far have enabled it to undertake programmes and activities that have resulted in efficiency and improved service delivery.
"These achievements include the Authority's ISO certification, clearance of the review of a backlog of environment impact assessment reports, the automation of the licensing regime that has already commenced among others," Bullo said.
She said the board will continue to work at ensuring that the Authority will excel in service delivery thus improving its rating in performance contracting.
"The Board will ensure that it works to enhance the governance structures in place for NEMA to enable it regulate and promote an environment that is necessary to promote a green economy in the country. As a board, we are undertaking several initiatives to demonstrate our commitment to a green economy," Bullo said.
Through donor support, Bullo said the board has approved construction of two green offices at Taita Taveta and Homa Bay in the coast and Western Kenya respectively.
"These offices will be lit naturally and extra lighting will be provided using solar panels. All the water will be harvested and this will help in lowering bills," she said.
"Other innovations in our upcoming green offices include improved waste management, vegetation in the compound, economic use of water and energy. Through this initiative, NEMA will be demonstrating to the public how they can participate in green buildings."
Bullow said the board is committed to capacity building on green economy for the staff and adequate money has been set aside for training and participation in international conferences.
"Further, plans are underway to ensure that our fleet of vehicles is fitted with car tracking equipment to ensure economic use of fuel and hence reduce our carbon footprint," she said.
Under performance contracting, she said the board has taken up green economy related interventions as part of cost cutting measures.
"Some of the activities being done include improving fuel consumption efficiency of vehicles through applying a fuel catalyst in the vehicles, harvesting rainwater, reducing on printing among others."
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