Kenya’s President addresses global leaders at COP27 in Egypt

Sharm El Sheikh -  President William Ruto on Tuesday addressed global leaders at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference which is taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

Kenya’s head of state challenged delegates and countries to focus on commitments and implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement and other previous COP 26 pledges.

“The State of Climate in Africa report lays it bare. High water stress is estimated to affect about 250 million people in Africa and is expected to displace up to 700 million people by 2030. In the past 50 years, drought-related hazards have claimed the lives of over half a million people and led to economic losses of over 70 billion USD in the region.” says President Ruto.

President took the opportunity to urge global leaders to act on their pledges and promises made more than a decade ago “As we speak, the pledge made 13 years ago in Copenhagen, committing USD 100 billion annually, remains unfulfilled. Such egregious and unexplained default is a major cause of persisting distrust. Neither is there any sound reason for the continuing pollution?”

More than 1 000 flood-related disasters were reported involving more than 20,000 deaths in Africa alone. It is estimated that by 2050, climate impacts could cost African nations USD 50 billion annually.

President Ruto opines that “The Horn of Africa region, including Kenya, is experiencing the worst drought in 40 years. Two consecutive years without rain have visited misery to millions of people. 2.5 million livestock have died in Kenya this year alone causing economic losses of more than USD 1.5 billion.”

Kenya’s wildlife heritage has not been spared by the ravaging drought that has led to the death of elephants, zebras, wildebeests, and many other wild faunas.

This has forced Kenya’s government to spend $ 3 million to supply feed and water to wildlife in the last 3 months.

Kenya’s 5th president also rallies investors to tap into the country’s green energy sector.

“There exists opportunities in Kenya to produce 20 GW of wind power, 10 GW of geothermal electricity, and being at the equator, considerable amounts of solar energy. Green energy production opportunities are vast in Kenya and throughout Africa. In the EAC, for example, there exists a sufficient hydroelectric potential to produce 100,000 MW and if properly exploited, could generate enough clean energy for the whole continent. Instead of struggling to power industrialization using dirty energy, which is costly and is destroying our planet, we want to make a case for developed economies to decarbonize their production by directing industrial investments to Africa and making use of clean energy to manufacture for the world.” comments President Ruto.

COP26 established the Glasgow Dialogue to formulate funding arrangements for measures to prevent, mitigate and remedy loss and damage associated with the adverse impacts of climate change.

Africa contributes less than 3% of the pollution responsible for climate change but is most severely impacted by the ensuing crisis.

President Ruto added that “It is therefore only fair and proper that this conference takes necessary measures to recognize Africa’s special needs and circumstances under the Paris Agreement, in line with the convention and relevant decisions adopted by previous COPs.”

President Ruto is also the coordinator of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), he revealed that he plans to convene a continental summit focusing on climate action come 2023.

“You are all invited to take part in Africa’s march to sustainable economic transformation and green growth.

Kenya’s next significant export will be carbon credits. This is why we call for simplified, more transparent carbon market systems that directly benefit communities and not just intermediaries.”

GAROWE ONLINE