Nairobi, 7 June 2011
- Kenya Airways has announced its participation
in the Climate Neutral Network (CN Net),
an initiative of the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP).
CN Net is at the forefront of the movement
towards a global transition to low carbon
economies and societies.
In this cooperation
with UNEP, the airline will have an opportunity
to implement its existing strategies for
reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions.
It will be granted access to climate neutral
tools and resources and will be part of
a forum for exchanging knowledge and best
practice in addressing the causes of climate
change.
CN Net is a high profile
platform for innovative and forward-thinking
pioneers to present to the world their strategies
for moving towards climate neutrality and
inspiring others to follow suit, through
an interactive website and networking opportunities
at major international events, such as World
Environment Day.
"Our participation
in CN Net confirms our commitment to addressing
environmental issues including the challenge
of climate change by being able to accurately
account for the Green House gases that our
operations emit and investing in environmental
sustainability strategies to reduce and
offset the emissions," said Dr. Titus
Naikuni, Group MD and CEO of Kenya Airways.
In recognition of Kenya
Airways' recently launched Voluntary Carbon
Offsetting Scheme, CN Net invited the airline
to participate in the movement towards climate
neutrality. Kenya Airways is now officially
registered as a CN Net participant, and
the airline has its own page on the CN Net
website, which it will use to receive and
share useful information to promote a global
transition towards a low carbon development
path.
"UNEP is delighted
to welcome Kenya Airways as a participant
of the Climate Neutral Network," said
Henry Ndede, coordinator of UNEP's Kenya
Country Programme, Regional Office for Africa.
"As a major international carrier,
Kenya Airways is leading by example in not
only aiming to reduce its own emissions,
but also in empowering its customers to
join the fight against climate change. UNEP
welcomes Kenya Airways' commitment to working
towards a sustainable airline industry."
The Involvement of Kenya
Airways in the Network will allow the airline's
successful environmental sustainability
programs - including the Ngong Hills Reforestation
Project 'Plant a Future', newer fuel efficient
aircraft, fuel savings initiatives that
have been employed throughout the airline's
operations, as well as the Olkaria III phase
2 Geothermal Expansion project - to be highlighted
on the CN Net website. Here the airline
can engage with other organizations and
businesses interested in becoming climate
neutral, increasing global exposure of the
projects' benefits.
Kenya Airways page on
CN Net: www.unep.org/ClimateNeutral/Default.aspx?tabid=3058
UNEP's Climate Neutral
Network: www.unep.org/climateneutral
+ More
A Virtual College for
Species Conservation launched
Baeza, Spain, 7 June
2011 - Conservation has now been given a
lecture hall with the launch of the new
Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES) Virtual College, a highly
collaborative initiative amongst many CITES
Parties, partners and organizations, and
a first for a multilateral environmental
agreement.
The launch of the CITES
Virtual College took place at the International
University of Andalusia (UNIA). The interactive
course will be available in three working
languages of the Convention, a library and
a training centre. Moreover, experts on
CITES-related issues will be invited to
provide lectures via video and to advise
students on questions related to their course
work.
Strong links are also
being established with academic institutions,
particularly the UNIA, where the CITES Virtual
College will provide students enrolled in
the Master's course on Management, Access
and Conservation of Species in Trade: the
International Framework with a useful introduction
to the fundamentals of the Convention.
Mr John E. Scanlon,
the CITES Secretary-General, said: "The
CITES Virtual College is a significant step
forward in the creative use of new information
and communication technologies. Innovations
such as these significantly enhance the
ability of the Secretariat to provide capacity-building
activities and materials to CITES Parties
and in a highly cost effective manner."
Dr Juan Manuel Suárez
Japón the Rector of the UNIA added
that the College would "strengthen
collaboration between the International
University of Andalucia and the CITES Secretariat
and provide a cutting-edge platform for
collaboration and work. It will also better
prepare students enrolled in the Master's
course to engage more quickly in substantive
academic research and study."
Access to environmental
data has also been given a boost with the
Online Access to Research in the Environment
(OARE), an international public-private
consortium coordinated by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), Yale University,
and leading science and technology publishers
which enables developing countries to gain
access to one of the world's largest collections
of environmental science research.
Over 3,000 peer reviewed
titles are now available in more than 100
low income countries. Research is provided
in a wide range of disciplines.
To access the CITES Virtual College, please
go to: campusvirtual.unia.es/cites/
To access OARE, please go to: www.oaresciences.org/en/
The CITES Secretariat welcomes comments
on the CITES Virtual College
African Laureate of UNEP 20th International
Children Painting Competition Announced
today on World Environment Day
