Officials attending the 20th session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, have called for faster action to address the continent's environmental challenges and stronger protections for its biodiversity.
The five-day conference, which ended on Friday, was held under the theme "Four Decades of Environmental Action in Africa: Reflecting on the Past and Imagining the Future" and marked the 40th anniversary of AMCEN.
More than 1,000 delegates, including ministers and representatives of multilateral agencies, civil society, academia, and industry, discussed topics such as climate change, biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, deforestation, and climate finance.
"You have collectively shaped the African environmental agenda, championing climate action, protecting biodiversity, addressing land degradation and pollution, and ensuring African voice is heard on the global stage," said Zainab Hawa Bangura, director-general of the United Nations Office at Nairobi.
The officials urged faster action to protect Africa's forests, biodiversity, and communities. Meanwhile, calls for climate reparations were amplified, along with demands for holding polluters accountable and securing direct funding for indigenous-led conservation efforts.
"As we mark this important milestone, let us draw inspiration from AMCEN's legacy and renew the dedication of the environmental challenges and opportunities ahead. Together we can build on this strong foundation to secure a sustainable future for generations to come," said Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, deputy executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
Furthermore, a political declaration was adopted at the conference, establishing bold priorities to ensure Africa's voice is heard at the UN Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30) in Brazil later this year and in the future.
Since its inception in 1985, AMCEN has served as a vital forum for African countries to collaboratively tackle the environmental challenges facing Africa. Across its diverse sessions, AMCEN has fostered the development of crucial resolutions that have not only influenced regional policies but have also bolstered Africa's role in global environmental governance.
African ministers demand urgent climate action, biodiversity protection
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
