Latest news with #UNEP
Maroc
a day ago
- Politics
- Maroc
Morocco Participates at 20th African Ministerial Conference on Environment in Nairobi
The 20th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-20) kicked off on Wednesday at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, with Morocco's participation. The Kingdom is represented at the conference, held under the theme 'Four decades of environmental action in Africa: reflecting on the past and imagining the future', through a delegation led by Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali. Morocco's participation in this 20th session reflects its firm commitment to actively contribute to defining and implementing ambitious African environmental policies, in line with the High Guidelines of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in favor of a sustainable future for Africa and for future generations. The session, held until July 18, is a key opportunity to take stock of 40 years of regional environmental cooperation. It offers African environment ministers the opportunity to examine emerging challenges, identify opportunities for continent-wide action, and explore ways of cooperating to bring Africa's priorities to the global stage. In addition, ministers and experts will review progress made in implementing the decisions adopted at the 18th and 19th ordinary and 10th extraordinary sessions of the AMCEN, as well as identify Africa's environmental priorities for the 2025-2027 period. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the AMCEN, a special high-level session will be held on July 18, with the participation of high-level figures from Africa and worldwide, to examine environmental sustainability on the continent. The special session will also result in the adoption of a declaration on the 40 year achievements of AMCEN and recommendations for meeting Africa's environmental challenges in the future. MAP: 16 July 2025
Daily News Egypt
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt's Environment Minister attends AMCEN conference in Nairobi
Egypt's Minister of Environment, Yasmine Fouad, has arrived in Nairobi to participate in the 20th session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), taking place from 14 to 18 July under the theme 'Four Decades of Environmental Action in Africa: Reflecting on the Past and Imagining the Future,' marking the conference's 40th anniversary. This high-level gathering brings together ministers from across the continent, alongside senior figures including the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the President of the African Development Bank, and the African Union Commissioner for Environment, as well as prominent environmental experts. Fouad highlighted the importance of AMCEN in shaping unified African positions ahead of major international events, including the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), ongoing negotiations towards a global treaty on plastic pollution, and the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP30). She noted that the conference will also review progress on previous resolutions and set Africa's environmental priorities for the period 2025–2027. During the opening session, which included the ceremonial handover of the AMCEN presidency to Libya, Fouad took part in several high-level ministerial dialogues. These included discussions on 'Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Budgeting and Finance' as a means to address climate change, natural disasters, and environmental degradation. She also engaged in a dialogue titled 'Leveraging the G20 to Address Environmental Challenges,' and participated in the official launch of the African Union's Continental Circular Economy Action Plan (2024–2034), designed to support sustainable economic growth and reduce environmental waste across Africa. On the sidelines of AMCEN-20, Minister Fouad is holding a series of bilateral meetings, including with Musonda Mumba, Secretary-General of the Ramsar Convention, to discuss preparations for COP15; Elizabeth Maruma, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of UNEP; and Jim Skea, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to follow up on preparations for the IPCC's 63rd session scheduled for October 2025. She is also set to meet with Jessica Roswall, EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistan, SPAR6C explore carbon market
Listen to article Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik, held a meeting on Tuesday with the delegation of SPAR6C (Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation), a global initiative overseen by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). SPAR6C is a five-year programme (2022-2027) supporting Pakistan, Colombia, Thailand, and Zambia in preparing to participate effectively in international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. According to a statement, during the meeting, both sides discussed avenues for strengthening Pakistan's readiness for Article 6 cooperation, with a particular focus on the student sponsorship programme under SPAR6C. They reviewed ongoing support for Pakistani students who have been trained or conducted research related to Article 6 and explored future opportunities to connect their expertise with national carbon market initiatives.
Zawya
2 days ago
- General
- Zawya
Madagascar launches $7 million initiative to protect coasts from climate change
Madagascar has officially launched a landmark initiative aimed at enhancing climate resilience by restoring critical coastal ecosystems and improving livelihoods across vulnerable regions. Nearly 100,000 people are expected to benefit directly across four key coastal regions—Boeny, Menabe, Diana, and Atsimo Atsinanana—where climate impacts are already threatening both livelihoods and biodiversity. The project, Scaling Up Ecosystem-Based Adaptation for Coastal Areas in Madagascar, will be executed by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development with a USD 7.1 million grant from the Global Environment Facility and a cofinancing of USD 27 million. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) assisted the government with developing the project and will act as the implementing agency, as a continuation of a long-standing partnership on resilience-building and strengthened environmental stewardship Madagascar's coastal ecosystems—mangroves, coral reefs, and coastal forests—serve as natural buffers against rising seas, intensifying cyclones, and coastal erosion. Yet these ecosystems are under growing pressure from deforestation, overfishing, and a changing climate. Coastal zones support more than 75% of the local population by providing, for example, marine species for fisheries or valuable non-timber forest products. The new project aims to enhance the resilience of both ecosystems and communities through nature-based solutions, conventionally referred to as ecosystem-based adaptation. In close coordination with the Regional Directorates for Environment and Sustainable Development (DREDD), the project will support integrated coastal zone management structures, enhance national and local adaptation coordination, and provide revised tools and plans to integrate EbA at the regional and municipal levels. The initiative will restore 3,000 hectares of mangroves and coastal forests and rehabilitate 2,000 hectares of degraded watersheds using community-based approaches. Over the course of the project, almost 100,000 people are expected to benefit directly from ecosystem-based adaptation interventions. It will also support the creation of 20 ecosystem-based businesses, with a focus on empowering women and youth through access to training, technical support, and equipment. These businesses will span climate-resilient sectors such as sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, beekeeping, ecotourism, and rainfed agriculture. An official high-level launch ceremony was held on 15 July at Hôtel Le Louvre Antaninarenina, bringing together representatives from national ministries, UN agencies, civil society, and development partners. In her opening speech at the ceremony, the Secretary General of Environment and Sustainable Development Hahitantsoa Tokinirina Razafimahefa, said: 'Restoring mangroves means protecting the coastline, supporting sustainable small-scale fishing, creating natural carbon sinks, and preserving nesting sites for rare species. In other words, it means acting on adaptation, mitigation, food security, and biodiversity conservation—all at once.' Paz Lopez-Rey, UNEP's Programme Management Officer for the new project, said: 'The project will strengthen local governance for integrated coastal zone management, while ensuring the integration of ecosystem-based adaptation into key regional and municipal planning tools. But it will go further than that; it will lead to a national strategy to scale up ecosystem-based adaptation in other vulnerable coastal areas of the country.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Arab News
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan reviews carbon market plans with UNEP-backed SPAR6C initiative
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's climate change minister has reaffirmed the country's commitment to rolling out its first national carbon market, following a meeting on Tuesday with a United Nations-backed initiative helping the country build on carbon market policy guidelines launched last year. Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik hosted a delegation from SPAR6C, the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation program, which is overseen by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The five-year project is helping Pakistan, Colombia, Thailand and Zambia develop the capacity to trade carbon credits under Article 6 of the Paris climate accord. 'Pakistan is committed to building a robust, transparent, and inclusive carbon market,' Malik said, according to a statement released by his office, adding that deeper cooperation with international partners and the domestic private sector will be key to delivering on the country's climate goals. The ministry noted that the meeting reviewed support for Pakistani students who have been trained or conducted research on emissions trading under SPAR6C. Both sides also discussed 'ongoing and upcoming carbon trading opportunities in Pakistan and potential projects under evaluation,' though no new agreements were announced. Pakistan presented its draft carbon market policy guidelines at COP28 in Dubai last year and has been preparing to formally roll them out at COP29 in Baku later this year. Under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, countries can cooperate on cutting emissions by trading carbon credits, potentially unlocking new revenue streams for developing economies. The South Asian nation does not yet have an operational carbon trading platform but has launched policy guidelines and is developing systems to implement its first market. It ranks among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, facing frequent floods and heatwaves, while contributing only a fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions. It has pledged to cut projected emissions by 50 percent by 2030, conditional on international financing and support. SPAR6C's work in Pakistan includes technical assistance, student training and pilot activities to help the country develop robust standards for carbon trading.
