Karatina University was privileged to be invited to participate in the Fourth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) held in the UNEP Headquarters at Gigiri, Nairobi from 11th to 15th March, 2019. The United Nations Environment Assembly is the world’s highest-level environmental forum that was attended by heads of states, environment ministers around the globe, CEOs of multinational companies, NGOs, environmental activists, faith based organizations and scholars to discuss and make global commitments to environmental protection and sustainability.
Courtesy Photo with the Director General, NEMA Prof. Geoffrey Wahungu (C) at the University booth
The United Nations Member States delivered a blueprint for change, saying the world must hasten towards a new model of development in order to respect the vision laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. The Assembly rested under the themes of innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production aiming to inspire nations, companies and individuals to take a critical look at how they produce and consume. A Twitter hash tag #Solve Different and Think Beyond drove online participants globally to the forum.
The university, in the five-day forum was represented by Prof. P. Aloo-Obudho, Deputy Vice Chancellor (ARSA) ; Prof. Gilbert Nduru, Director, Research and International Programmes; Dr. Mugo Mware, Dean School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies; Dr. Josphat Kagema, Coordinator, Community Outreach; Mr. Wilson Lochomoi, Marketing Officer and Mr. Leonard Wamai, Senior Technician Media. The team purposed to showcase the innovative green brand of Karatina University inspired to provide transformational sustainable environmental development and green activities. Karatina University was the only university from Kenya to participate in the high profile Assembly and the second one after Yale University from the United States.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (ARSA) Prof. P. Aloo-Obudho explaining a point on KarU green concept to Hon. Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary Tourism
The Assembly in its five days of deliberations was deeply concerned on the wanton destruction, plunder and depletion of the global environment. Consequently, the planet is increasingly polluted leading to gobal climate change. This was brought to focus by the over 5000 delegates who gathered to address environmental challenges through advancing innovative solutions and adopting sustainable consumption and production patterns.
On Thursday, 14th March 2019, the French President Emmanuel Macron was hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta in the high level One Planet Summit and he affirmed on the world leadership commitment to tackle laws and rules that are binding and adopted internationally to safeguard and protect the environment for posterity. He concluded: ‘Our biosphere faces total devastation’. Karatina University team was once more privileged to attend the high profile discussions.
One of our guests signing the Visitors Book
In conclusion, Karatina University has a strong focus to mirror on environmental sustainability. This is a follow up of the recent branding of the University as a Green University. By participating in the high level conference, the university has made a mark in the global dialogue especially on environmental sustainability