COP26: Uhuru pushes world leaders to do more to protect developing countries from adverse effects of climate change

Glasgow, Scotland

President Uhuru Kenyatta has challenged world leaders to do more to combat the increasing threat posed by climate change, especially to developing countries.

Speaking during the ongoing COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland, President Kenyatta said climate change posed a huge threat to Kenya and Africa as a whole.

Boris Johnson, Uhuru Kenyatta and António Guterres. PHOTO/COP26 

“All the reports including the most recent inter-governmental panel on climate change sounded an alarm bell that the world risks facing a global catastrophe unless leaders shift gear on climate change,” he told the world leaders.

Uhuru Kenyatta. PHOTO/COURTESY COP26

The Head of State called on leaders from the developed world to adopt bold measures to combat the looming crisis posed by climate change on poor nations, especially in Africa.

“We need to urgently implement bold mitigation and adaptation measures to avert the looming crisis, it is the least that we can do to bequeath a peaceful and sustainable planet to future generation,” he urged.

Uhuru Kenyatta. PHOTO/COURTESY STATE HOUSE

He went on, “Climate change is escalating and complicating new and old conflicts throughout the world. Climate change poses an existential threat to Kenya and to most countries in the African continent.”

In Kenya, Uhuru noted, extreme weather events, including floods and droughts, lead to losses of between 3-5% of the GDP annually and in the process aggravating food insecurity and triggering divisive inter-community and inter-country competition for resources.

Uhuru Kenyatta and Emmerson Mnangagwa. PHOTO/COURTESY HC

He, however, revealed that Kenya was doing more to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse emissions.

“Kenya has developed a robust climate change action plan to scale up efforts and to maintain a low carbon growth trajectory.”

Uhuru Kenyatta and Dr Lazarus Chakwera. PHOTO/COURTESY HC

He said Kenya is committed to restoring degraded water towers, accelerating forest restoration and increasing tree cover to at least 10 per cent of the country’s land area to promote a sustainable blue economy and promote green manufacturing.

“Kenya is a pacesetter in the energy sector; among the top eight global leaders in geothermal development and home to the largest wind power project in Africa. Close to 90 per cent of power used by Kenyans is from renewable sources, and we are targeting 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030.,” he added.

PHOTO/COURTESY HC

The president also revealed that Kenya’s Priority during her presidency tenure at the UN Security Council (UNSC) will be to amplify the voices of Africa and the Global South and build a compelling case for the nexus between climate change and security.

“Kenya is doing her fair share. Let me, however, hasten to add that these are mere baby steps relative to the enormity of the climate change challenge.

Uhuru Kenyatta and Hakainde Hichilema. PHOTO/COURTESY HC

Here are the four critical issues, according to President Kenyatta, that Kenya went to the COP26 climate change in Glasgow to push world leaders to deliver on;

1. To see an increase in ambition in emissions reduction by pushing the major emitters to make more ambitious their emission reduction commitments.

2. Quantum increase in climate finance for developing countries. Major emitters have twice failed to deliver on their pledge to release $100 billion per year to developing countries and have instead made a fresh pledge for 2023 in Glasgow.

3. Ambition on adaptation and loss and damage with climate change impacts increasing and called for strengthened and increased financial support.

4. Expressed hope for the conclusion of detailed rules and procedures for implementing the Paris Agreement, a clear way forward. Demanded that the treaty be sufficiently inclusive to consider needs of Africa and other developing countries.