President William Ruto has called upon African governments to seize the opportunity presented by green investments to unlock the continent's vast potential.
Speaking at the Africa Climate Summit held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), President Ruto emphasized the importance of investing in renewable energy, green industrialization, climate-smart agriculture, and nature conservation.
In his address, President Ruto stressed that such investments would not only contribute to global decarbonization efforts but also propel sustainable development, stimulate economic growth, and generate millions of job opportunities.
"We must see in green growth not just a climate imperative, but also a fountain of multi-billion-dollar economic opportunities that Africa and the World is primed to capitalise on," Ruto stated.
Ruto urged African nations to strive towards becoming a global hub in the green industrial supply chain, emphasizing Africa's vast potential in renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, sustainable biomass, and hydropower.
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He lauded Kenya's progress in renewable energy, where 92 per cent of the country's power supply comes from clean sources.
"Our ambition is audacious yet achievable: 100 per cent renewable by 2030 and a 100 Giga Watt grid, entirely renewable, by 2040," he stated.
Additionally, Ruto called on African nations to shift from a raw-material-based approach to one focused on value addition of raw materials, advocating for higher ambitions in economic development.
"The time has come for us to break out of the shackles of low ambition. We must now begin to aim higher and strive for more, and better outcomes," the president said.
African Union Commissioner Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko emphasized Africa's commitment to addressing climate change through sustainable solutions, centred on large-scale investment in climate resilience and energy assets to drive sustainable industrialization.
Soipan Tuya, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Environment, echoed this sentiment, stating, "Africa is spearheading ecologically responsible global industrialization to address the climate change crisis."
The summit also saw President Ruto allocate Sh7.2 billion to counties under the Financing Locally-LED Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme, which seeks to enhance Kenya's climate adoption through financing, technology, and capacity building.
These grants, in addition to Sh3 billion of county own-resource allocations, will finance local climate action priorities in agriculture, water, and natural resources management across the nation.
Furthermore, President Ruto presided over the launch of significant initiatives, including the Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) 2022-2050, the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2023-2027, and the Climate Change (Amendment) Act 2023, highlighting Kenya's commitment to sustainable environmental policies and actions.
The summit, attended by distinguished guests including the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance Executive Director, Dr. Mithika Mwenda, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, provided a platform for leaders to discuss strategies for combatting climate change.
The Africa Climate Summit showcased the continent's determination to address climate change and leverage green opportunities for a sustainable and prosperous future. President Ruto's call for increased green investments has set the stage for African nations to take bold steps towards a more environmentally responsible and economically viable future.
