MORE than 160 participants from Kenyan higher education institutions last
week attended the launch of the Kenya Green University Network (KGUN),
which is aimed at including environmental and sustainability practices
into the curricula, campus designs and research projects of Kenyan
universities.
Speaking at the launch of KGUN, a joint initiative of the Commission for University Education (CUE), the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, said that Kenya is seeing fast progress in higher education.
“With the increase in student enrolment, there is more reason, challenge and opportunity to integrate sound environmental practices and knowledge-sharing into the higher education fabric. Many Kenyan universities have already recognised sustainability demands and have responded in ways that are worth sharing. They are investing in greener campuses, greener curricula, and ways of engaging staff, students and community,” Steiner said.
Professor Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Authorities of Kenya, said that the network marks the beginning of long-term cooperation between 70 universities in Kenya that will address sustainability issues through the adoption of low-carbon strategies, mainstreaming environmental sustainability across the curriculum, and engaging with community and other stakeholders at various levels.
The National Environment Management Authority, through its Director General, Professor Geoffrey Wahungu, also expressed its commitment to continuously work with universities, through various initiatives including this network to harness synergy and mobilize resources for capacity building to enhance environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the launch of KGUN, a joint initiative of the Commission for University Education (CUE), the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, said that Kenya is seeing fast progress in higher education.
“With the increase in student enrolment, there is more reason, challenge and opportunity to integrate sound environmental practices and knowledge-sharing into the higher education fabric. Many Kenyan universities have already recognised sustainability demands and have responded in ways that are worth sharing. They are investing in greener campuses, greener curricula, and ways of engaging staff, students and community,” Steiner said.
Professor Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Natural Resources and Regional Development Authorities of Kenya, said that the network marks the beginning of long-term cooperation between 70 universities in Kenya that will address sustainability issues through the adoption of low-carbon strategies, mainstreaming environmental sustainability across the curriculum, and engaging with community and other stakeholders at various levels.
The National Environment Management Authority, through its Director General, Professor Geoffrey Wahungu, also expressed its commitment to continuously work with universities, through various initiatives including this network to harness synergy and mobilize resources for capacity building to enhance environmental sustainability.
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