UNEA 7 opens in Nairobi as 170 countries tackle climate, nature and pollution
Representatives from more than 170 countries are meeting in Nairobi from 8–12 December for the seventh United Nations Environment Assembly, the UN’s top decision‑making forum on the environment. Delegates will consider 15 draft resolutions and three draft decisions covering glaciers, sargassum seaweed blooms, coral reef resilience, chemicals and waste, minerals and metals governance, and reducing the environmental footprint of artificial intelligence. UNEP executive director Inger Andersen has urged delivery of “real solutions to real‑world problems” as the world remains off track on climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, noting that UNEA outcomes, while not legally binding, can pave the way for future agreements.
UNEA‑7 features high‑level dialogues on the environmental links with industry, finance and health, the launch of the seventh Global Environment Outlook, and announcement of the 2025 Champions of the Earth, with more than 4,800 participants registered and proceedings streamed in six UN languages. For African tourism, decisions on coral reefs, seaweed blooms, pollution control and biodiversity funding are directly relevant to destination resilience, coastal amenity and wildlife conservation, while proposals to strengthen UNEP’s Nairobi headquarters and approve the 2026–2029 medium‑term strategy could influence future investment, partnerships and on‑the‑ground delivery.
Source: UN Environment Programme
