OPINION: Kenya's role in COP28 should be to pioneer clean solutions for climate resilience

As we approach COP28, the world's attention is once again turning to the pressing issue of climate change.

This global conference is of paramount importance for addressing climate change on a worldwide scale.

However, it is essential to recognize that Africa, particularly its sub-Saharan regions, is facing unique and severe challenges due to climate change.

Kenya, like many other African nations, finds itself in the throes of this environmental crisis, battling rising temperatures, erratic rain patterns, and a surge in extreme weather events.

These challenges are not mere abstractions; they have become agonizing realities, posing grave threats to Kenya's agriculture, water resources, and overall economic stability.

In the face of these daunting challenges, Kenya is poised to play a pivotal role at COP28. Specifically, Kenya should take on the responsibility of pioneering innovative clean energy solutions that can enhance the nation's climate resilience.

This proactive approach is not only critical for Kenya but also holds the potential to serve as a model for other developing countries.

The repercussions of inaction in transitioning to clean energy are dire. Climate change is no longer a distant specter; it is a menacing and imminent reality.

African nations, despite contributing a mere 4% of global carbon emissions, grapple with disproportionately severe vulnerability to climate change. In Kenya, commendable progress has been made towards harnessing renewable resources for a sustainable future.

However, the intricate balance between ensuring access to safe, sustainable energy for households and phasing out fossil fuels for cleaner, low-carbon energy sources remains a vexing challenge, one that developing countries confront daily.

Damilola Ogunbiyi, co-chair of UN-Energy, has succinctly articulated this precarious equilibrium: "We cannot achieve net zero by 2050 if we do not achieve sustainable energy by 2030."

Her words encapsulate the challenge of harmonizing two critical global goals: disengaging from "dirty" energy sources and ensuring that households have access to fundamental energy needs like cooking, lighting, and economic activities.

In Kenya, a developing nation where a significant portion of the population lacks access to electricity and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) for daily essentials, there is still heavy reliance on solid fuels for energy.

This dependence on wood and charcoal for cooking and heating, particularly in rural areas, carries severe consequences, from deforestation to alarming household air pollution due to inefficient fuel combustion.

Remarkably, the majority of Kenyan households originate from agricultural backgrounds, representing a wellspring of potential for energy independence from fossil fuels and resistance to the volatilities of global energy markets.

The solution lies in innovative biodigesters, remarkable contraptions capable of transmuting organic waste into biogas and nutrient-rich organic fertilizer. This transformation extends beyond environmental benefits, ultimately bolstering food security through enhanced crop yields.

These ingenious devices harness organic waste from everyday activities and products such as crop residues, livestock manure, and kitchen scraps to yield biogas as well as organic fertilizer.

Biogas serves as a clean fuel for households, generating energy for cooking, heating, and lighting, thereby mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the health hazards associated with household air pollution generated from inefficient solid fuel combustion. The advantages of this method extend beyond greenhouse gas mitigation and reduce deforestation.

The socioeconomic implications of biodigesters are profound, particularly in rural Kenya. Energy independence empowers households economically through the sale of surplus fertilizers and biogas.

Furthermore, biodigesters alleviate the burden on women, who are often responsible for cooking and household chores. This not only reduces the time spent on collecting firewood but also promotes a higher quality of life for every member of the household.

Kenya's commitment to sustainability, combined with its sprawling agricultural terrain, positions it to blaze a trail in this transition.

The nation has the potential to serve as a beacon, illuminating how clean energy can empower households, mitigate climate change, and provide a brighter, more sustainable future for all. As the world converges for COP28, Kenya's journey towards a greener and more sustainable future can serve as a source of inspiration and a model for other nations to follow.

Kenya’s role in COP28 should not be merely as a passive participant. It should actively champion clean energy solutions to enhance climate resilience and show the world what is possible. By doing so, Kenya can pave the way for other nations to follow, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Madrin Maina Regional director Sistema Bio