Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Assistant Secretary Monica P. Medina will travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, February 19-25, where she will meet with senior government officials and civil society representatives to discuss conservation and environmental issues, including combating illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and other nature crime. She will also meet with health officials to reinforce U.S. support for health and health security collaboration between the United States and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Assistant Secretary Medina will then travel to Kenya, February 25 to March 3, as the head of the U.S. delegation to the resumed Fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) and UNEP@50, a special session of the UN Environment Assembly celebrating 50 years of the UN Environment Program. Assistant Secretary Medina will engage with government counterparts to advance efforts related to ocean plastic pollution and minerals governance, among other issues. She will also participate in a side event to address regional responses to the air pollution crisis. While in Kenya, Assistant Secretary Medina will also meet with Kenyan government environmental counterparts and civil society representatives to catalyze U.S.-Kenyan cooperation on a range of environmental and conservation issues.
