It is encouraging to see African Countries coming together to discuss how to prevent climate change and propose solutions to challenges brought about by the drastic changes in weather patterns.
On September 4th 2023, H.E the President of the Republic of Kenya Dr William Samoei Ruto launched the Africa Climate Summit 2023 at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) in Nairobi. This was a three-day summit that brought together over 20 African heads of state and leaders from across the globe to discuss climate change solutions, opportunities in different regions and barriers to overcoming climatic challenges.
The summit themed ‘Driving Green Growth and Climate Solutions for Africa and the World’ will have a great impact on Africa’s development, only if we all choose to put into practice the solutions presented by our leaders at the summit.
The National Assembly Lady Spouses Association of Kenya (NALSA-K) acknowledges and advocates for the integration of green growth principles with climate finance to achieve sustainable development goals. The First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, Mama Rachel Ruto, who is the Association’s patron is notably a champion of green energy initiatives. During the Africa Climate Summit 2023, Mama Rachel delivered her welcome remarks during the high-level session titled ‘The Big Opportunity: Education and Skills Development for A Climate-Adapted and Green Economy,’. She emphasized the need for Africa to invest in its youth and women and equip them with the skills they need to succeed in the green economy and the transition to clean energy.
In March 2022, NALSA launched a solar panel project in Mbeere North constituency. This project was flagged off by NALSA Vice Secretary Daisy Muriuki and has seen homes in the area without electricity installed with solar panels.
The Association also runs a briquette-making project (Eco makaa) in Alego-Usonga constituency which is spearheaded by NALSA Vice Chairperson Salome Atandi. Briquettes are from natural waste and farm residue. This Briquettes project has benefitted the Alego-Usonga residents by providing an affordable and efficient energy source.
The two projects in Mbeere and Alego-Usonga constituencies are essential steps in ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable modern energy.
The above are among the great initiatives by NALSA that are geared towards a climate-smart Africa. This fulfils the Association’s objective number six (6) which aims to ‘facilitate the preservation of our environment for posterity’ as well as the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) which calls for ‘Affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all’ by 2030.
While Africa has contributed negligibly to the changing climate, with just about three (3) per cent of global emissions, disproportionately it stands out as the most vulnerable region globally. For instance, in Kenya, drought which causes increasing evaporation has decreased our hydropower capacity leading to reliance on more polluting energy sources. Local human activities also increase the greenhouse effect, contributing to climate change.
Kenya acknowledges the existence and detrimental effects of climate change. Climate Action has been integrated into law as highlighted in the Kenya Climate Change Act 2016 institutionalizing climate action.
During the 27th Meeting, COP27 held in November 2022 in Egypt, Kenya recommended that developed economies decarbonise their production by directing industrial investments to Africa advertising Kenya’s ability to potentially produce 100,000 megawatts that could generate enough clean energy for the whole continent. But will this be possible if our electricity generation sector continues to be hit by the adverse effects of drought?
Incorporating greater environmental protection by ‘Driving Green Growth and Climate Solutions’ will enable and allow for the development of strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is important to have Kenya and Africa as a whole, adopt projects and initiatives that mitigate and adapt to climate-smart processes. Policymakers, organisations and individuals ought to support green growth and climate finance solutions here in Africa and globally. It is significant to fund projects and initiatives that mitigate and adapt to climate change solutions.
NALSA is ready to partner in climate-smart projects that will drive positive change for our Kenyan communities. Examining the nexus of green growth and climate finance, NALSA aims to inspire action and foster an understanding of how sustainable economic development and climate resilience can go hand in hand, benefiting not only Kenya but Africa and the world as a whole.
By Anyanzwa Brian.