The Africa Climate Summit will be held in February 2025, aiming to address matters related to climate challenges, adaptation, and resilience initiatives and enhancing the role of youth and children in promoting climate inclusion and accountability.
The first ever thematic pre-convening event that brought together the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry with key partners including Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA), the German Corporation for International Cooperation, Kenya (GIZ KE), the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), and various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Strengthened Africa’s growing commitment to climate accountability.
This summit seeks to build on the momentum from the previous Africa Climate Summit, calling stakeholders across sectors to action. Key discussions will focus on addressing climate challenges, adaptation and resilience initiatives, and enhancing the role of youth and children in driving climate inclusion and accountability.
Speaking at the stakeholders thematic pre-convening event in Nairobi, Jacobs Ladder Africa CEO Sellah Bogonko stated that the Africa Climate Summit (ACS) has represented a new chapter in Africa’s journey of owning and steering the conversation on the unique climate change solutions that Africa can offer to the world.
“The outcomes of ACS will significantly change the path of Africa. Jacob’s Ladder Africa, in conjunction with partners in the private sector, civil society organizations and the Government of Kenya, have led the charge to take stock of the progress made,” she reiterated.
She noted that the Climate Adaptation and Resilience convening aims to address the challenges identified by African leaders, including sustainable agriculture, climate-resilient urban infrastructure, and drought preparedness.
Bogonko added that the Youth and Children Inclusion in Climate Action will make the younger generation hold leaders accountable and push for their active involvement in climate policy and action.
Making his remarks, head of Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) consult and Circular Economy and Climate Change Dr. Jackson Koimbori said that agricultural resilience and infrastructural investments are major concerns since they protect both urban and rural communities from the impact of climate change.
“As Africa undergoes rapid urbanisation, climate resilience must be a priority. We are working on solutions that are both practical and sustainable to ensure communities can withstand future climate shocks,” he stated.
Additionally, he noted that the private sector plays a major key role in renewable energy expansion, green manufacturing, and sustainable agriculture development since the private sector realised that 70 percent of carbon emissions globally come from the private sector.
“KEPSA plays a key role in renewable energy, manufacturing, and even the creation of green jobs through enforcing and educating members to embrace renewable energy from solar to wind and to hydro to cut carbon emissions,” he said.
He acknowledges the collaboration between the government and private sector will help the recommendations move forward.
Making her remarks, head of the Greening and Climate Change Division, State Department for Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), Anne Kamonjo, said that the department of TVET has greening initiatives in the institutions as well as spearheads in developing green skills in each course.
“We have integrated green skills in our curricula, not only to bring the issue of renewable energies like solar, but also in every course in our institutions. We have integrated green concepts so that whatever competence a student wants to engage in, he understands the environment, and his competence and job interact with the environment,” he said, adding that the State Department of TVET Education has greening initiatives in the institutions.
She highlighted the initiatives such as waste management, the ecosystem restoration program, tree planting, and nursery establishments in the institutions in order to motivate students and youth to join the green job space.
“So, for green growth and green transformation, we really need the youth since they are the future of tomorrow,” she said, adding that the education curricula actualise green skills for green jobs to transform youths and help them understand climate change.
By Sharon Atieno
