Honouring Wangari Maathai, UNEP's Chief Scientist Reasserts the Value of Environmentally Focused Sustainable Development

The scientific achievements of women are key to environmental progress

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Photo courtesy of Wanjira Mathai

Nairobi, 19 September 2015 - Speaking at the Wangari Maathai Memorial Lecture in Nairobi, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Chief Scientist Jacqueline McGlade paid tribute to the Nobel prize winner and renowned environmentalist while challenging her listeners to move towards a better world.

Delivered as part of the Storymoja Festival, she praised Dr. Maathai by quoting her famous teaching that "every little thing counts". Introduced by Wanjira Maathai, Dr. Maathai's daughter, the event was organized in partnership with the Green Belt Movement.

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• Storymoja Festival

The United Nations has long praised the work of Prof Maathai, from her early campaigning to becoming the co-patron of the UNEP Billion Tree Campaign.

On the day dedicated to Dr. Maathai's achievements, Prof. McGlade emphasized that environmentally sound decisions were also cost effective ones.

She also echoed Dr. Maathai's belief that transforming our world requires rethinking our ideas on how to proceed, whether by designing cities that run on solar and hydro energy, or by ensuring women can take positions of authority.

"More women are needed in science and environmental sciences," said Prof. McGlade. "Knowledge of the natural world is vital and that knowledge must be shared and used by as many people as possible, including across gender divides. While support for women in powerful scientific and environmental sectors is good, the number of women in the field is declining."

The annual festival, in its eighth edition, is a forum where local and international writers, narrators, poets, musicians and creative artists from diverse backgrounds gather to exchange thoughts.

For Further Information Contact:

Anne Kennedy, UNEP News and Media, +254 713 987650, anne.kennedy@unep.org