Kenya Joins the World in Marking World Environment Day with Renewed Call for Climate Action
Kenya joined the rest of the world on 5 June in commemorating World Environment Day, a global platform dedicated to raising environmental awareness and inspiring action for nature and climate protection. The national celebrations were held at the Arboretum Grounds in Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, under the theme “A Global Call for Climate Action.”
The event brought together national and county leaders, development partners, and environmental stakeholders and was presided over by the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa, alongside Principal Secretary Dr. Eng. Festus Ngeno. The leadership of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) was also present, led by Board Chairman Emilio Mugo, Director General Dr. Mamo B. Mamo, Board Members, and senior government officials.
CS Barasa Reaffirms Kenya’s Commitment to Climate Action
In her remarks, CS Dr. Deborah Barasa reaffirmed the Government of Kenya’s commitment to strengthening environmental governance and accelerating climate action in line with national and global environmental priorities.
She emphasized that World Environment Day serves as a critical reminder of the urgency to protect ecosystems, restore degraded landscapes, and promote sustainable development pathways. The CS underscored that Kenya continues to scale up climate interventions, including landscape restoration, pollution control, sustainable waste management, and climate adaptation measures at both national and county levels.
Dr. Barasa further highlighted the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in achieving environmental goals, noting that effective climate action requires active participation from government institutions, the private sector, communities, and youth. She called for stronger environmental stewardship, particularly in addressing pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss.
She also reiterated Kenya’s commitment to flagship initiatives such as large-scale tree growing, green growth strategies, and policy reforms aimed at strengthening environmental compliance and resilience. According to the CS, these efforts align with Kenya’s development agenda and global climate commitments.
Kenya’s Growing Leadership in Environmental Action
Speaking during the event, NEMA Board Chairman Emilio Mugo noted that Kenya, like many countries globally, continues to face escalating climate-related challenges including droughts, floods, and biodiversity loss. Despite these challenges, he observed that Kenya has positioned itself as a continental leader in environmental governance.
He pointed to key national initiatives such as the 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme, expansion of carbon markets, implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and strengthened waste management systems. These efforts, he said, are anchored in the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA), 1999, and are being accelerated under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Climate Change as a Triple Planetary Crisis
NEMA Director General Dr. Mamo B. Mamo described World Environment Day as an opportunity to raise awareness and mobilize collective action for environmental sustainability.
He warned that climate change must be understood as part of a “triple planetary crisis” involving climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. He stressed that these interconnected challenges require urgent, coordinated global and local responses.
The DG emphasized that the theme “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,” reflects the need to embrace nature-based solutions and strengthen environmental responsibility at all levels.
“We do not have a planet B,” he said, urging citizens and institutions to take immediate action to safeguard the environment.
The World Environment Day 2026 celebrations in Kenya reaffirmed the country’s commitment to environmental protection and climate action. Leaders called for stronger collaboration across sectors, increased investment in green solutions, and deeper public engagement in environmental stewardship.
As Kenya advances its green development agenda, the message from the celebrations was clear: protecting the environment is a shared responsibility that demands urgent and sustained action for present and future generations.
