President Uhuru Kenyatta and the First Lady Mrs Margaret Kenyatta with the visitng United Nations Secretary General Ban-ki Moon and his wife Mrs Mrs Ban Soon-taek when they called on them at State House Nairobi
H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon witnessed the adoption of a new historic framework that will set in motion Africa’s sustainable transport transition, benefiting health, the environment and overall sustainable development across the continent.
Over 42 African countries, represented by ministers of transport, environment and other senior officials, participated in the Africa Sustainable Transport Forum (ASTF), organized by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank and UN-Habitat which was hosted in Kenya.
Speaking at the opening of the ministerial event, President Kenyatta, said, “This conference comes at a time when Africa is at a critical stage in implementing its development agenda 2063. For this agenda to gain traction, it requires our commitment to a shared strategic framework for inclusive growth and sustainable development for Africa’s transformation. It also requires that we do things differently to achieve our vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.â€
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, commended African Governments for taking the initiative to formulate a sustainable transport strategy. He further stated that this move is in line with the emerging African Agenda 2063 and the associated Common African Position on the post-2015 development agenda.
“Only a few months ago, I participated in the first UN Environment Assembly, at which member countries called on the international community and UNEP to strengthen their work on air quality. I am happy to see we are already putting this into action, today, through developing a sustainable transport roadmap for Africa,†added Mr. Moon.
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director said, “With spending on transport infrastructure growing at an unprecedented rate across Africa, policymakers have a window of opportunity to mitigate climate change threats and ensure the health and well-being of millions of Africans by introducing clean and efficient transportation.
The ASTF Framework will provide the platform for Africa’s decision-makers to share best practices, coordinate sustainable transport efforts and provide focus to development planning to transition its transport sector into one that is more resource-efficient, environmentally sound and cost-effective for its ambitious and increasingly mobile population.
The roadmap adopted by ministers at the forum seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport in Africa by adopting a comprehensive approach that aims to promote the use of low-emission non-motorized transport, encourage the development of quality public transport and increase investment in clean technologies.