UNEP chief: Stockholm+50 must accelerate SDGs

31 / 05 / 2022

By Marwa Nassar - -

Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Secretary-General of the Stockholm+50, said Stockholm+50 must give us new ways to accelerate the transformations that are critical to achieve a healthy environment and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“As we stand here proud to watch the UN blue flag rising, let us be reminded that the UN blue stands for peace, for security, for human rights and dignity for all; for freedom; and for development. All these principles are grounded on a healthy environment,” she said.

Stockholm+50 is a critical opportunity for leaders to draw on 50 years of multilateral action to achieve the bold and urgent action needed to secure a better future on a healthy planet. It is indeed befitting that this gathering is hosted by Sweden and Kenya who have long been trailblazers of environmental multilateralism.

“As the Secretary-General of the Stockholm+50 international meeting, I am deeply honored to join co-hosts, the governments of Kenya and Sweden as we raise the UN flag today,” Andersen said.

About Stockholm Conference:

Fifty years ago, the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment put the environment on the global map. The conference marked the beginning of dialogues between countries on human well-being, development, poverty reduction and environmental protection.

The conference spurred environmental action in almost every country in the world. The conference spurred environmental action in almost every country in the world. And the conference heralded the birth of the United Nations Environment Program which serves as the environmental conscience of the world.