The KEPSA Environment, Water and Natural Resources Sector Board held the first quarter Sector Board on 9^th March 2022.  The sector board members reflected on achievements realized by the private sector in pursuit of sustainable production and consumption. The sector board has grown substantially to be robust, active and engaged in the policy formulation discourse since the year 2018.  

The sector board applauded the historic resolution at UNEA 5.2 event to establish a global legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution.  The resolution will make it possible to establish standard market mechanisms to enable the implementation of extended producer responsibility regulations developed with the support of the sector board. The plastics treaty is expected to cover provisions for addressing pollution at source within the full lifecycle of plastics from production, design, management of plastic waste as a resource including reuse and recycling and disposal measures.  The resolution also included the establishment of an intergovernmental negotiation committee (INC) to draft the treaty by the year 2024. 

The members also reflected on key achievements of the sector board in the year 2021. This includes the launch of the Sustainable Waste Management Policy that fundamentally shifts the waste management practices in the country from linear to circular.  The partnership and collaboration of the sector board with the government culminated in these transformative milestones.

“Drawing from active and constructive engagements, in the year 2022, the sector board will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and other partners to pursue the finalization of key policy instruments required for the transition to a green and circular economy. This includes; the sustainable waste management bill, the extended producer responsibility regulations (EPR),” said the Chair of the Sector Board Ms Emily Waita.

The sector board also lead the development of the Private Sector Strategy on Climate Change Solutions 2022 – 2030 that had undergone national validation on 16th February 2022. This is a national guide on the integration of climate change into business strategies and actions and increasing private sector investments in adaptation and mitigation.

The Sector board will also partner with (ICRAF) to enhance private sector support on landscape restoration and ecosystems management. This workstream is led by the Vice-Chair of the Sector Board, Dr John Wandaka who co-chaired the meeting.