Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has said that Kenya is ready to host the first-ever Africa Climate Summit.
She said this is after the 36th ordinary session of the African Union Assembly granted the request and approved Kenya as a co-host to the summit.
"We are back here to announce that the plans for the summit have been finalised and Kenya together with African Union Commission is waiting for the world in Nairobi in under three weeks from now," Tuya said.
She said they have accredited 13,000 delegates from 136 countries for the inaugural high-level meeting.
Among those accredited are 13 African heads of state and representatives of international organisations, civil society, youth and private sector.
The CS spoke on Wednesday in Addis Ababa where she was meeting the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) of the Africa Union and Ministers of Environment from across Africa.
The CS, who is attending the 19th Ordinary Session of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) said the Summit was convened following a 2019 African Union Assembly resolution.
"The African leaders were prompted by the African continent bearing the greatest burden of climate change despite the fact that its current greenhouse emissions gases are very low," the CS said.
Tuya said they are also looking forward to a Nairobi Africa Leaders Declaration on Climate Change and call to action.
She said the blueprint will propose a new climate financing architecture to alleviate the continent's growing debt distress among other provisions.
"Africa Climate Summit is going to provide an opportunity for partnerships where Africa and the world are offered trade and investment opportunities, in ways that ensure sustainable development," she said.
The CS noted that Africa is willing to commit its assets including mineral and energy resources, agricultural capacity and natural capital to lead the global decarbonization agenda.
Tuya was accompanied by Kenya's Climate Envoy Ali Mohamed, Kenya's Ambassador to Ethiopia Jean Kamau, Climate Change Director Pacifica Ogolla and NEMA's Director General Mamo Mamo.
