'Gov't must prioritize climate resilience strategies,' Kenya Green Building Society CEO says ahead of COP28

Nanda highlighted Kenya's vulnerability to climate change and urged the development of resilient mitigation strategies at the local level.

“I would like to hope that in our local context in Kenya will see and hopefully work with County Governments to support that aspect of dealing with climate-related issues,” she said.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s Daybreak program early Wednesday, Nanda called for the government to formulate independent plans for local financing to combat climate change. 

“In the past a lot of African or developing country Governments over relied on foreign goodwill. The people of Kenya did not vote for external sources, they voted for their President and local leaders,” she said.

The environmental activist also drew attention to the harsh conditions faced by Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS).

She emphasized the urgency of prioritizing climate adaptation measures and urged the need for proactive government preparation to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events on vulnerable communities.

“Between the ASAL Region and other regions in the country, it’s extreme. When its drought, people are dying and starving, when it’s flashfloods, people are being swept away. This should not be of low priority when it’s happening. A Government needs to be prepared before,” Nanda stated.

The CEO also suggested harnessing financial resources from the Port of Mombasa by promoting eco-friendly practices, turning it into a green port. 

She emphasized the strategic significance of the port to Kenya and the East African region, noting the potential for financing and investment.

“With Mombasa, you have the Port. There is an opportunity there to make it a Green port which could bring in financing for Mombasa County and also the Blue Economy. If we focus on building what we already have at the County level, that potentially would be a key opportunity that could unlock both financing and investment,” she noted.

As global leaders are set to gather for COP28 in Dubai on Thursday, November 30, Nanda called on African leaders to spearhead initiatives promoting sustainable practices. 

She stressed the need for clear priorities and alternative solutions if or when the Global North falls short.

“A disclaimer is that we need to be prepared, not just coming together, but we need to be clear on our priorities and in the event that the Global North does not give us what we are looking for, we need to know an alternative solution for us to prepare and tackle climate change,” she stated.

Commenting on the floods in Dubai during COP28, Nanda said that she sees it as a wake-up call for leaders underestimating climate change's global impact. 

“I think that it is a blessing for the floods to be happening during COP because maybe the people who think that it is Africa’s or Asia’s problem, not a Global North problem, are going to be experiencing climate change in action as they discuss climate action. It’s going to be a strong wake up call for leaders who are now going to a city which is experiencing it as they discuss it,” she said.

She expressed optimism that this realization would foster a collective commitment to addressing climate change, emphasizing that it is a shared problem requiring global cooperation.

“Perhaps it might work to our benefit because now, we are seeing that even Dubai, which is glamorous, is not immune to it. We are not complaining as Africa because we are here to beg, this is collectively our problem, we just need support in walking this journey,” she added.

Delegates from around the world will convene in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for the UN COP28, which will take place from Thursday, November 30, until December 12, 2023. 

As well as progress towards the existing Paris goals, COP28 will concentrate on, among others, accelerating the transition to clean energy, securing climate financing and negotiating a new deal for developing nations centered on nature and people.