UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi to focus on Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet
The seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly UNEA, the world’s highest-level decision-making body for matters related to the environment, will take place in Nairobi, Kenya from 8 to 12 December 2025. The theme of the session is ‘Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet’. Finland’s UNEA delegation in Nairobi will be led by Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala.
UNEA-7 will bring UN Member States and representatives of civil society groups, the scientific community and the private sector together to seek solutions to acute environmental challenges. A key outcome sought from the session is a joint ministerial declaration expressing a political commitment to combat climate change, biodiversity loss, soil degradation and pollution.
The assembly will also approve the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Medium-Term Strategy for 2026–2029 and discuss around 15 resolutions dealing with issues such as nature and climate, laws and governance, the circular economy, chemicals, waste and pollution, and administrative matters.
“We can’t wait for better times to address global environmental problems. We must work to find common solutions despite the difficult geopolitical situation,” says Minister Multala.
The resolutions adopted by UNEA build a common international understanding of environmental problems and the means to respond to them. Finland and the EU especially support resolutions that improve synergies between environmental agreements, curb the environmental impacts of artificial intelligence, strengthen young people’s participation and promote the sustainable management of minerals and metals.
The resolutions and decisions of UNEA will eventually be reflected in the EU and in individual countries. For example, the decision to initiate the ongoing plastics treaty negotiations was made at the UN Environment Assembly held three years ago.
The Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7), UNEP’s comprehensive environmental report, will also be released at UNEA-7. In addition, the Youth Environment Assembly, Civil Society Forum and numerous side events will be organised in connection with the assembly. Finland will host a circular economy themed side event on 11 December jointly with UNEP, the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, Senegal and Brazil. During her visit, Minister Multala will also meet Finnish companies operating in Kenya and support their exports.
Inquiries
Marjaana Kokkonen
Ministerial adviser
tel. +358 295 250 025
[email protected]
Lyydia Ylönen
Special Adviser to Minister of Climate and the Environment
tel. +358 50 476 1341
[email protected]
(in Nairobi from 10 to 12 December 2025)