President William Ruto has called for the establishment of a New Global Financing Pact which ensures no country is ever forced to choose between its development aspirations and necessary climate action.
In his remarks at the ongoing COP28 summit in Dubai, Ruto said the threat that is climate change is devastating countries regardless of their size or wealth.
"A stark illustration of this disastrous turn of events is currently unfolding in Eastern Africa, where catastrophic flooding has swiftly followed the most severe drought the region has seen in over forty years," he said.
The President told the summit that studies indicate that droughts are now at least 100 times more likely in parts of Africa than they were in the pre-industrial era.
He said in Kenya, relentless torrents have claimed lives, displaced countless communities, destroyed vital infrastructure and disrupted critical supply chains across many vital sectors.
Ruto said the situation is replicated across the Horn of Africa and many other developing countries, laying bare the harsh reality of climate change.
"In turn, this calls for a unified global effort to mobilise the necessary capital for both development and climate action. To echo the consensus projected at the Paris Summit, we must establish a New Global Financing Pact," he said.
"Fundamentally, this is a call for an integrated approach where economic growth and environmental sustainability are not mutually exclusive but are pursued in tandem for the greater global good," he added.
The President said the response must match the scale of the global challenge that is climate change with boldness and innovation.
He said what's at stake is more than the severe climatic changes as it is a matter that calls for the guaranteeing of dignified living and livelihoods for billions who lack basic necessities.
"Consequently, our approach must be collaborative, inclusive and anchored in justice. This means making decisions that prioritise the well-being of every person while acknowledging that climate action is inextricably linked to social justice and equity," Ruto said.
The President told the parked auditorium that the world is keenly monitoring events at the COP28 and whatever will be delivered at the summit will be a testament to whether leaders are capable guardians of the planet and competent stewards of its sustainability or not.
"In this room, we have the power, the means and, most of all, the responsibility to act. Let us not be satisfied with another minimal increment, but rather, let us make this COP a turning point towards a just, equal world of opportunity, safe from the looming threat of a climate disaster," he said.
