Kenya, Saudi Arabia explore deeper cooperation on Coral Reef protection at UNEA-7

Driving strategic environmental diplomacy, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Dr Deborah Barasa held a meeting with the Saudi Arabian delegation led by Dr Khaled Asfaham, CEO of SHAM and Co-Chair of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), at the United Nations Complex.

Joined by the Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Eng. Festus Ng’eno, Dr Barasa said, “we explored avenues to deepen cooperation between Kenya and Saudi Arabia in coral reef protection and broader environmental stewardship.”

A major point of discussion was the upcoming 2026 UN Oceans Conference, which CS Barasa said Kenya is honoured to host.

The meeting assessed potential collaboration ahead of the convening, especially as Saudi Arabia prepares to host the next Oceans Conference in Riyadh in 2027, a progression expected to strengthen continuity, shared learning and global ocean governance.

Dr Barasa added that, “A central focus of our discussions was the forthcoming 2026 Oceans Conference… We examined areas of collaboration as Saudi Arabia prepares to host the subsequent conference in Riyadh in 2027, ensuring continuity, shared learning and strengthened global ocean governance.”

She further briefed the delegation on Kenya’s three resolutions at UNEA-7, Sport and the Environment, Artificial Intelligence, and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), while reaffirming the country’s active engagement in negotiations towards a global treaty to end plastic pollution.

UNEA-7, hosted in Nairobi, the global headquarters of the UN Environment Programme, brings together environment ministers, policymakers, scientists, and civil society from more than 190 countries.

Convened under the theme “Effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution,” the assembly is the world’s highest decision-making body on environmental matters.

Kenya, as the host nation, continues to play a central role in shaping global environmental priorities, strengthening multilateral action, and advancing partnerships that protect ecosystems such as coral reefs, wetlands, forests and marine environments