The Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno, recently led a strategic meeting focused on key environmental issues. The goal? To improve governance, restore degraded lands, manage climate impacts, and revitalize wetlands.
During this meeting, Dr. Ng’eno outlined objectives for 2026, emphasizing the need for resources beyond the existing budget to ensure impactful projects that benefit local communities. This aligns with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to uplift grassroots initiatives.
Dr. Ng’eno highlighted the importance of addressing three major environmental challenges: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The approach, framed as ‘People, Planet, Profit,’ aims to enhance forest cover while providing economic benefits. He appreciated the achievements of the past year but stressed the importance of ongoing teamwork and technical support.
A significant part of the discussion revolved around Kenya’s bid to host the Secretariat for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISP-CWP) and the Plastics Treaty. This initiative places Kenya as a leader in global environmental governance, especially for African nations aiming for a stronger voice in international policy.
Dr. Ng’eno also talked about upcoming programs that will shape the department’s agenda. These include climate action efforts, community capacity building, and financial strategies for climate adaptation and mitigation. The department is reviewing key laws, including the National Environment Policy, planning events like public meetings and workshops for citizen engagement.
He noted, “The new policy will create a framework for managing natural resources sustainably, linking environmental health with economic prosperity.” He also pointed to challenges such as pending legislation and the need for stricter fiscal oversight.
On the calendar are significant events like World Wetlands Day on February 2 and World Meteorological Day on March 23. Tree planting will be a central theme in these events, supporting the presidential initiative to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.
The meeting was attended by key figures including Secretary Administration Mr. Mwongo Chimwaga and Environment Secretary Dr. Selly Kimosop.
In summary, the emphasis lies on collaboration and aligning initiatives with the government’s strategic objectives. As the world faces urgent environmental issues, Kenya is positioning itself as a leader in fostering sustainable practices and policies that benefit both people and the planet. This proactive stance could set a precedent for other nations facing similar challenges, reinforcing the importance of collective action in tackling climate change.
For more insights on global environmental strategies, check out reports from the United Nations Environment Programme.
