Lake Turkana is famous because of the hominid discoveries, including Australopithecus species, Homo habilis, Homo erectus and Homo sapiens.
It has also featured lately in the opening and final scenes of a book and film, The Constant Gardener.
Located in a dry part of northern Kenya, Turkana is a shallow lake, with a relatively high surface area.
A UNEP report on International Waters Assessment said this, among the factors, puts Turkana at risk from climate change due to increasing evaporation
Speaking after returning from the lake, Luo added: "I plan to come visit the lake several times in the coming years to take images of the lake. It will be a barometer by which I can measure whether action against climate change is succeeding. When I fly over Lake Turkana, I do not want to see it extinct, but existing."
During a visit to Lake Nakuru, Luo said its beauty moved him, but was shocked by threats to its world-famous flamingoes from falling water levels.
"If we are to defeat climate change, deliver sustainable development and eradicate poverty, we need governments but we also need all sectors of society to step up to the bar," Steiner said.
The UNEP chief stressed the need for a "down to earth action" by philanthropists and businessmen.
Participants at the Nairobi climate talks, which opened yesterday, urged rich nations to end their differences on the proposed fund to help developing countries counter effects of climate change.
They said the Clean Development Mechanism established under the Kyoto Protocol would save the poor countries, which are the most affected.
Source: The East African Standard
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