Nairobi, 4 December 2017 – The President of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, today addressed the third session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, which was held under the overarching theme “Towards a Pollution-Free Planet”.

The President said, “Pollution is global. Yes, it can start unilaterally; it only takes one person, in one small part of the world, to pollute the land, air or waters around them. But this will have ramifications for people, and countries, miles away. If we are to truly combat pollution, we must therefore make multilateral commitments, and we must turn them into multilateral action.”

During his two-day visit to Kenya, the President also addressed a side event on forest and life on land after planting a tree at Karura, Nairobi’s urban forest. He acknowledged that “they [forests] are the lifeblood of our planet”. He also attended several meetings on partnerships with the private sector to tackle pollution, such as a science, policy and business forum; a business symposium; and a leaders’ luncheon and the 2017 Sustainable Innovation Expo, saying “Science, policy and business sometimes seem worlds apart. But each of these groups has a stake in our environment. We must continue to talk and listen to each other. Our survival depends on it.”

During his first visit to Africa as General Assembly President, Mr. Lajčák also held meetings with H.E. Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya; H.E. Ms. Amina Mohamed, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary of the Republic of Kenya and member of his Team of External Advisers; and H.E. Ms. Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kenya. In his meetings, President Lajčák discussed migration, peace and security, and the situation in the region. He also commended Kenyan leadership on the total ban of plastic bags in the country and other measures to protect the environment.

In the margins of the United Nations Environment Assembly, the President met with the President of the United Nations Environment Assembly and Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica, H.E. Mr. Edgar Gutiérrez, as well as H.E. Mr. David A. Granger, President of the Republic of Guyana, and H.E. Mr. Anthony Carmona, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. He briefed both on his priorities and upcoming events during the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly and recognized their commitment to protecting the environment.

While at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), the President listened to ideas, inputs and concerns of the Director-General of UNON, Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde; the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Mr. Erik Solheim; the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Ms. Aisa Kirabo Kacyra; and representatives of the United Nations Country Team in Kenya. In all meetings, he stressed the importance of UNON as the only United Nations office away from Headquarters in the global south.

Before leaving Kenya for Mexico, the President briefed the young winners of the “Champions of the Earth” award and invited them to join his initiatives on engaging young people.

Tonight, the President will travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for a General Assembly stocktaking meeting on migration.

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Katharina Kandt, Communications Adviser to the President of the General Assembly, Kandt@un.org, +1 917-244-3890