Latest decisions from the UNEP (made in Nairobi, Kenya)

Here is some of the press release (released 23 February 2009) from the UNEP meetings held in Nairobi:

Delegates to the 25th Session of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC25/GMEF), which met from 16-20 February 2009, in Nairobi, Kenya, took 17 decisions including on international environmental governance, a significantly increased UNEP budget, support to Africa on climate change, and mercury . . .

Another key outcome of the meeting was a decision to elaborate a legally binding instrument on mercury, which may have significant co-benefits with the climate regime. It is projected that mercury pollution will rise in part as a result of increased coal-burning in Asia, which also causes increased greenhouse gas emissions. Out of the 6,000 tons of mercury entering the environment annually, some 2,000 tons come from power stations and coal fires in homes. There are also growing concerns that, as climate change melts the Arctic sea-ice, mercury trapped in the ice and sediments is being re-released back into the oceans and into the food chain.

It is very pleasing to see the UNEP receive a 'significant increase' in funding, given the importance of researching, designing and implementing an effective and fair global emissions reduction policy.

For a brief history of UNEP GC/GMEF and a good summary of the latest meetings and their outcomes, please check out Earth Negotiations Bulletin Vol. 16 No. 78.
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