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. 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. 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. Shotlist: Nairobi, Kenya - July 18, 2025: 1. Various of performance in progress, attendees at 20th session of African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN); 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Zainab Hawa Bangura, director-general, United Nations Office at Nairobi (starting with shot 1): "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."; 3. Various of conference in progress, attendees; 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, deputy executive director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) (starting with shot 3/ending with shot 5): "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."; 5. Various of conference in progress, attendees. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]