Kenya tops list of African countries in need of urgent climate financing

Local action to tackle climate crisis is grounded on climate finance to support communities build resilience, this is the unanimous voice of climate experts, government officials, community representatives, humanitarian organizations as well as development agencies that attended a simplified report on climate change launch in Nairobi, on July 24th, 2024.

The impacts of climate change in Kenya report indicates that Kenya contains part of three of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots - the Eastern Afromontane, the Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa, and the Horn of Africa - which are home to species not found anywhere else in the world hence the need save the country from further possible climate change impacts.

Further, the report spells out that Kenya derives 42% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from its natural resources, agriculture, tourism, forestry, mining and fishing - where, about 50% of its land is used for agricultural produce, both cash and non-cash crops.

Tea, the most exported cash crop in Kenya, is staring at ‘death’; the report findings state that tea production in Kenya is projected to fall by 26% by 2050, even with ambitious efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Wheat yields in Africa are projected to decline by 15% by 2050, a significant decrease compared to the 1.9% reduction projected globally by mid-century.

The National Treasury is actively leading mobilization of green finance for climate local action, making Kenya become the first African country to effect adaptable local climate action narrative.

According to Peter Odhengo, the Head of Climate Finance and Green Economy Unit and FLLoCA Programmes Coordinator at the National Treasury, emphasises the importance of citizen engagement and local leadership in advancing climate action efforts.

Mr. Odhengo reiterated that the approach highlights the critical role of community involvement in developing sustainable environmental strategies.

In attendance at the launch also was Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, who noted the importance to prioritize equity in climate initiatives and drummed up support for inclusive efforts to combat climate change saying vulnerable communities are the most affected.

“There is a need to increase funding for research that contextualises global model outputs, sector-specific costs of climate impacts, the cost of inaction, and the role of local and indigenous knowledge, among other factors, if we are to adequately adapt to impacts of the changing, especially at the local level,” emphasised Ng’eno.

As for Immaculate Ntalai of Nadupoi women group in Kajiado County, even with the little knowledge on climate change at grassroot level, there is will to tackle the glaring crisis before it gets out of hand.

“We are committed to put efforts to find ways to adapt for the sake of our children,” she said, adding that the community take is a response to increased droughts.

“We have launched community-led initiatives to secure sustainable water access and support our livelihoods. By leveraging local knowledge and resources, we are building resilience against the impacts of climate change.”

The Kenya Red Cross Society expressed concern that every year, despite Kenyans working harder to curb climate change effects it is still losing capacity to produce food due to the impacts of climate change.

“Last year, we faced a food crisis in July, a Cholera outbreak in September, and a flood crisis in October. Climate change is an undeniable reality - a troubling reality. The time to address this crisis is now,” said Dr. Ahmed Idris, Secretary General, Kenya Red Cross Society.

It emerged therefore that it is crucial to integrate coordinated climate adaptation strategies and policies that are sensitive to climate issues and have communities guided by climate action experts to collaboratively create sustainable climate solutions.

The report ‘Climate change impacts in Kenya’ is focused to simplify and break down what climate change means for Kenya and its people.

The climate report synthesis was led by the Kenya Meteorological Department Scientists to enable more people understand the current climate crisis facing Kenya.