President William Ruto has called for an urgent shift from rhetoric to concrete global action on climate change, warning that Africa continues to shoulder the heaviest impacts of a crisis it did not cause.
Speaking during the opening of the Seventh United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Ruto said the world must deliver fair and effective solutions to the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
“Our task in Nairobi is to translate signals into concrete actionable outcomes that address the triple planetary crises of climate change, bio-diversity loss and pollution. For Africa, climate is not an abstract debate but a daily experience,” Ruto said.
He cited recurrent droughts, failed harvests, destructive floods and intensifying storms across the continent, noting that these are no longer isolated calamities but part of the new global normal.
“For Africa, this numbers add to the existing burdens of debt, infrastructure deficits and limited fiscal space,” he said.
Ruto underscored the persistent inequities shaping the climate crisis, saying African communities suffer the most despite contributing less than 4 per cent of global emissions.
“Climate change is not a distant threat; it is a daily reality for millions in Africa and other developing regions. The inequities are stark: our farmers lose harvests, our pastoralists lose livelihoods, and our children face futures overshadowed by crises we did not create,” he added.
The president stressed that Africa is not merely a victim but a leader in advancing sustainable solutions.
He pointed to the Nairobi Declaration and a series of continental climate summits as evidence of Africa’s commitment to green industrialisation, nature-based solutions and youth-led innovations.
“Africa is not a victim of environmental degradation; we are pioneers of restoration. We offer models that the world must embrace not as charity, but as equal partnership.”
Ruto challenged delegates to accelerate progress on global environmental agreements, including the plastics treaty and emerging concerns over artificial intelligence’s environmental impact. He also urged action on glacier protection, saying decisions must be rooted in science and equity.
"Let this UNEA-7 send three clear messages: That multilateralism works when nations show up, negotiate honestly, and act decisively; that Africa will not only bear the brunt of climate impacts, but will also lead in providing solutions; and that we are committed to aligning our economies with planetary boundaries that ensure that jobs, dignity, and prosperity for our people go hand in hand with a stable," he said.
In a broader appeal for reform of global governance, Ruto warned that multilateral institutions must evolve to remain relevant.
“True progress demands reformed multilateral institutions: expand the Security Council to include Africa’s voice, or risk their obsolescence in a world that needs unity more than ever,” he said.
UNEA-7, the world’s highest decision-making body on environmental matters, is being held at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi through 12 December.
