ECOWAS, UNEP to Partner Private Sector on Environmental Sustainability 

Mon, Aug 21, 2017 | By publisher


Africa

 

THE Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Commission has reiterated its commitment to environmental sustainability by working with the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, to engage key players in the West African private sector to develop strategies which will ensure environmental protection.

During a courtesy visit to the ECOWAS headquarters on August 18, by Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo, director of UNEP Regional office for Africa, ROA, Vice President Edward Singhatey assured that the commission will facilitate efforts to engage the private sector in the region towards cleaner production processes and environmental sustainability.

This will be attainable by taking stock of how the private sector has contributed to environmental sustainability and harmonising environmental policies in the region with their input, he said.

Similarly, Koudenoukpo stated that the Regional Economic Communities, RECs, in addition to ensuring peace and security in the region, are key building blocks with vital roles to play in environmental protection which affect social and economic growth.

She solicited the cooperation of ECOWAS in the upcoming high-level meeting between UNEP and the African RECs as stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations.

The aim of the meeting is to strengthen regional environmental governance, identify and develop joint regional programmes/projects and mobilise resources for their implementation.

Koudenoukpo also used the opportunity to urge African nations to make financial commitments to environmental protection initiatives to ensure their sustainability and human security.

In agreement with the UNEP director for ROA, the vice president noted that being a former minister of environment in the Gambia, he had observed that environmental initiatives don’t often receive the attention and financial commitment they require to be implemented. He described this as unfortunate as “not protecting the environment will have consequences in the future on the society and human lives”, he noted.

Also in attendance at the meeting was Johnson Boanuh, ECOWAS director of Environment.

 

Aug 21, 2017 @ 10:47 GMT

 

 

 

 

 

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