By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Kenya is working with the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to strengthen the use of
cross-border environmental data for climate prediction, preparedness and
response, with a focus on connecting national capabilities to global digital
platforms.
Kenya’s Special Envoy on
Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo, participated in a UNEP discussion on
co-creating digital solutions with member states, building on cooperation
following the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly
(UNEA-7).
The discussions connected
UNEP’s Global Environment Data Strategy (GEDS) and the World Environment
Situation Room (WESR) to the need for countries to use environmental data
across borders to improve prediction and response to climate-related risks.
The approach has already
been demonstrated through a flood prediction and response pilot involving UNEP,
IDI and GIZ. The capability has since been integrated into the WESR platform
and is actively being used.
Ambassador Thigo said
weather systems cross national borders, while the data, models and expertise
needed to understand them are distributed across countries and institutions.
Sharing these capabilities can support earlier prediction, better preparedness
and faster responses to climate-related events.
The work forms part of
Kenya’s engagement with UNEP on implementation of the UNEA-7 Resolution on the
environmental sustainability of artificial intelligence systems.
