By KPC Reporter
The 20th Ordinary Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN-20) is underway at the UNON complex in Nairobi.
The conference is being hosted by the Government of the State of Libya.
This landmark gathering not only convenes ministers and environmental experts from across the continent but also commemorates four decades of environmental action in Africa.
Held under the theme “Four Decades of Environmental Action in Africa: Reflecting on the Past and Imagining the Future,” AMCEN-20 marks the 40th anniversary of the conference’s founding in Cairo in 1985.
The week-long event features a technical segment (July 14–15), a ministerial segment (July 16–17), and a high-level special session on July 18 dedicated to AMCEN@40.
Delegates are expected to adopt a political declaration, a series of decisions, and key policy messages that will shape Africa’s common positions ahead of major global environmental summits.
These include COP30 in Brazil, the 7th UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, and the CITES CoP20 in Uzbekistan.
The conference also aims to define Africa’s environmental priorities for 2025–2027, review progress from previous AMCEN sessions, and explore accelerators for achieving both Agenda 2030 and Africa’s Agenda 2063.
The high-level special session on July 18 will bring together dignitaries from across Africa and beyond to reflect on AMCEN’s achievements and chart a bold, inclusive path forward.
The session will culminate in a statement outlining the “AMCEN we want” — a vision for tackling Africa’s environmental challenges with renewed urgency and unity.