Hundreds of world delegates are scheduled to attend a five-day UN meeting on environment in Nairobi.
The second session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) opens today at Unep headquarters.
Security has been beefed up in the city ahead of the event that brings together researchers, policy makers, activists and environmental managers from across 193 UN member states.
Nairobi police boss Japheth Koome said security has been enhanced as over 3,000 delegates arrive for the event.
The delegates started arriving yesterday amid concerns over today's protests planned by the Opposition against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
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"We have planned well and we are ready to host the visitors. We hope the protesters will be civil in their plans because we are there to ensure safety for all," he said.
Tens of police officers have been mobilised to ensure smooth movement of the delegates from one place to the other.
Under the theme 'Delivering on the Environmental Dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development', the assembly will tackle matters of natural disasters, air pollution, deforestation, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, waste as well as water and sanitation.
The resolutions passed at UNEA-2 will set the stage for early action on implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, and the Paris Climate Agreement.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of a report that shows Africa is reeling from land degradation, air pollution and provision of sanitation and safe drinking water.
"Many of the region's fisheries, both inland and marine, face over-exploitation from illegal, under-reported and unregulated fishing. The continent has an opportunity to use its large young population to drive growth," reads part of the yet to be launched report titled Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-6): Regional Assessments.
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner will launch the report today.
The meeting also comes at a time when the country is experiencing changing climate patterns.
The UN Environment Assembly represents the highest level of governance of international environmental affairs in the UN system.
The meeting will culminate in resolutions and a global call to action to address the critical environmental challenges facing the world today.
It will reflect the latest global, regional and national developments related to the environment.
