POPE'S MESSAGE ON ENVIRONMENT SHOULD BE EMBRACED

By Maritim Evans

Pope Francis not only brought the word of God to Kenya, but also a strong message on environmental conservation. He dedicated his precious time to talk about environment at United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) headquarters and the need to embrace and encouarge the commitment of international agencies and civil society organisations that draw public attention to environmental issues.

Kenyans should at least pick something from the Pontiff’s message. Our continued destruction of our forests should come to an end. Mau Forest for instance, has been in the headline for a while now but our politicians continue to use it for political gains.

As Pope said, every step we take whether large or small, individual or collective we should at all cost be resposible in matters environment.

Pope preached dialogue with responsible cooperation among the political authorities, the scientific community, the business world and civil society. The cooperation among these bodies cannot be overlooked as it can bring positive change as we try to conserve our natural surrounding.

This much-needed change of course cannot take place without a substantial commitment to education and training. Nothing will happen unless political and technical solutions are accompanied by a process of education which proposes new ways of living as the Pontiff said.

The government should also seriously play its role without fear or favour as it is the custodian of our environment and natural resources.

We need to ensure that our institutions are truly effective and sustainable, as future generations will still need to live in a good environment we are trying to conserve today.

Pope’s message is timely as it comes at a time when the world leaders are in Paris for 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The conference objective is to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, from all the nations of the world.

The conference is an extension of Kyoto Protocol singned in 1997. The Protocol commits State Parties to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, based on the premise that global warming exists and man-made carbon emissions have caused it.

His message on envoironment in Kenya is also important as the world prepares for Habitat-III Conference to be held in Quito, Ecuador, in october 2016.