Climate crisis sinking African countries in debt – Ruto

He said countries in the continent are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.

In Summary
  • The President noted that Kenya has been forced to divert resources that are meant for economic growth into dealing with effects of climate change.
  • He added that climate change is destroying economies of African nations.
President William Ruto giving his opening remarks at the Africa Climate Summit at KICC, Nairobi on September 4, 2023
President William Ruto giving his opening remarks at the Africa Climate Summit at KICC, Nairobi on September 4, 2023
Image: PCS

President William Ruto has warned that many countries in Africa are sinking in debt because of climate change.

Addressing the second day of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit at the KICC, Ruto said countries in the continent are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.

“Let us be honest, we are suffering the most. Whether it is in the Sahel with drought, whether it is in the Horn of Africa with drought or in South Africa with cyclones. The suffering is across the globe but we bear the biggest brunt,” he said.

The President noted that Kenya has been forced to divert resources that are meant for economic growth into dealing with the effects of climate change.

“In Kenya, we lost two and a half million heads of livestock in northern parts. Combined with Somalia and Djibouti, we lost nine million heads of livestock,” he explained.

Ruto said he was forced to increase resources to school feeding from one and a half million school children to four million.

He added that climate change is destroying the economies of African nations.

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