By Eddah Waithaka
The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), the African Union Commission (AUC), the Green Belt Movement, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and Forestry held a two-day side event on 29th of February and 1st of March, aligning with Africa Environment Day established in 2002.
This momentous event will provide a crucial opportunity to address some of the most pressing environmental issues that are affecting the African continent.
This year’s thematic focus is on circularity, highlighting its critical role in addressing the triple planetary crisis and underlines the imperative for sustainable consumption and production practices.
This event aims to help mobilise a critical mass of stakeholders capable of catalysing widespread support for pro-poor, just, equitable, locally-led and science-based decisions to respond to the triple planetary crisis of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss through circularity. The event provides a perfect opportunity for practitioners to engage with experts in related disciplines and leaders from diverse backgrounds to internalise key beliefs for relevant application at local level and in international processes.
Speaking at the event, Dr Augustine Njamnshi, PACJA’s Chairperson for Technical and Policy Matters, said, “At PACJA, we are convinced that urgent action is needed to reform multilateralism in order to respond to the needs of frontline communities and to promote measures that improve responses to the triple crisis.”
“As currently structured, multilateral arrangements have blinded visibility in reaching out beyond consultation to communities on the frontlines of the triple planetary crisis, yet these communities are in urgent need of all forms of finance, including climate finance, to respond to matters of life and death,” Dr Augustine continued.
Also Read: https://news.switchtv.ke/2023/09/pacja-unites-african-legislatures-to-shape-global-climate-agenda/
In addition to celebrating World Environment Day, the event also celebrated Wangari Maathai Day by showing a documentary about how she had a vision of a greener and more sustainable world.
To honour Wangari Maathai’s legacy and promote her vision of a greener and more sustainable world, this year’s World Environment Day aims to accelerate progress on land restoration, drought resilience and desertification. Planting a tree is one of the simplest and most effective ways to restore land, protect biodiversity and improve the quality of the air we breathe and the water we all depend on.
The Green Belt Movement, which she pioneered, has planted over 50 million trees in Kenya and inspired similar efforts in other parts of the world.
Planting trees can help reduce our carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices in our daily loves.
