NAIROBI, May 17 (BERNAMA-NNN- KBC) -- President Mwai Kibaki has again voiced Kenya's support for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) based here to be upgraded to the status of an organisation in order to tackle the world's emerging environmental challenges.

Pointing out that an enhanced international environmental organisation would ensure universal membership and coherence of multilateral environmental agreements, he said here Wednesday that a stronger international environmental body would also be independent and secure increased and stable funding.

Speaking during a meeting at his Harambee House office here with UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, the president emphasised that Kenya supported a strong UNEP, embracing all the major organisations dealing with the environment across the globe as an effective and powerful voice to bring about the needed change.

President Kibaki also said Kenya had fully embraced a green economy in its implementation of economic growth and poverty reduction programmes which are friendly to the Earth's ecosystem.

The president, however, observed that like other developing countries, Kenya was concerned that the transformation to a green economy should not translate into trade barriers and imposition of environmental standards defined by developed countries.

Steiner briefed President Kibaki on the forthcoming Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro (Rio 20) to be held in Brazil next month. Kenya is expected to lead the lobbying for the upgrading of the UNEP during the summit.

Steiner agreed that environmental concerns should be placed at the same level with economic and social issues both at national and international fronts.

-- BERNAMA-NNN-KBC