• Uhuru said in his speech that the climate change impacts have led to a loss of about 3 per cent of the GDP annually.
• He said that the national government has adopted a comprehensive set of policies, rules, and procedures to address climate change.
Image: PSCU
President Uhuru Kenyatta has said Kenya will continue with its efforts to reduce the negative impacts of climate change.
The president spoke on Wednesday when he officially opened the 7th Annual Devolution Conference in Makueni County, which focuses on climate change, specifically the Multi-Level Governance for Climate Action.
The President made the speech virtually as he is currently in South Africa.
Uhuru said in his speech that climate change impacts have led to a loss of about three per cent of the Gross Domestic Product annually.
“In the last two years, we witnessed the worst locust outbreak in 25 years, which left about one million people food-insecure in the Horn of Africa."
"The rising water levels of the Rift Valley Lakes, Lake Victoria, and Turkwel Gorge Dam have displaced nearly 400,000 people in thirteen counties and affected biodiversity, including flamingoes in Lake Nakuru,” Uhuru said.
He said that the national government has adopted a comprehensive set of policies, rules, and procedures to address climate change.
“This effort, as you are all aware, has culminated in the development of the following key instruments.”
“This effort reflects Kenya’s resolve and desire to play its part in the international community’s efforts to address climate change, including preventing global temperatures from rising above 1.50 Celsius. Further, Kenya recently joined the Adaptation Action Coalition and the UN Call for Action on Adaptation and Resilience.”
The president added that through a partnership with the County Governments, the two institutions are sending a clear political statement that Kenya will continue to work with other like-minded governments, institutions, businesses, and civil societies to accelerate action to moderate the negative impacts of climate change, facilitate adjustment to expected climate impacts and strengthen capacity to absorb, and recover from climate change effects.
Uhuru added that both the National and County Governments will continue working together through the support of the National Climate Change Council, to achieve the 10 per cent forest, and protect our water towers and wetlands.
He said that the Ministry of Environment is targeting providing at least 42.5 million seedlings per county, which would bring the total to the two billion targets required to take Kenya to 10 per cent forest cover.
The president added that the government is using innovative approaches to expand access to energy through off-grid solar power and other clean cooking energy sources, with the aim of delivering 100 per cent clean cooking energy sources by 2028.
Also, Uhuru said that the Glasgow Climate Change Conference will deliver on funding commitments, which will attract into a Green Climate Fund.
“We will also be seeking to attract green investments such as the electric boda bodas, launched last week, and to tap into innovative finance such as blended financing to de-risk private investment. These efforts will open new avenues for green manufacturing and new job opportunities.”
Edited by CM