Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary, Keriako Tobiko, has urged experts to avoid scientific jargon and simplify messages to allow ordinary Kenyans participate in the climate change dialogue.
Speaking at a forum meant to chart Kenya’s road to the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is set for the end of this month in Glasgow, Scotland, Tobiko said Kenyans want to know, in simple language, what steps they need to take, to mitigate greenhouse emissions, adapt to, and withstand problems brought about by a warming planet.
The CS said the latest Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, shows that emissions have now reached 1.3 percent and are less 0.2 percent, to reach a critical threshold.
“Time for geo-politics is over. It is a matter of life and death. Let us all recognize that we are bound by the Treaty COP26,” he cautioned.
The United Kingdom Deputy High Commissioner to Kenya, Julius Court, said governments must act on climate change, since science reflects what the public is seeing around them.
“The bold statement at COP26 is to galvanize actions, that would save us from the climate catastrophe,” he said.
Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), Executive Director, Dr. Mithika Mwenda, said Kenya, like other African countries, must not give-up, but stand up for herself to ensure the climate injustices are repaired.
“You are all aware that our continent is facing undue hardship and losses because of climate change. Our people have contributed little to nothing to this crisis, yet they are the most vulnerable and least capable of protecting themselves,” Mithika lamented, adding that the situation is neither just nor acceptable.
He further added that to correct the injustices, industrialized countries, who are responsible for 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, must contribute their fair share of resources to help African countries adapt to, and withstand the suffering caused by floods, prolonged droughts, disease outbreaks and other difficulties, caused by a rapidly warming planet.
Mithika challenged leaders attending COP26, to make firm decisions to deliver $100 billion climate finance, for developing countries post-2020.
“They have to do so, not as a favour to us in Africa and elsewhere in the world, but because they owe poor communities and countries and mother earth, a duty to fix the mess they have created,” he maintained.
Mithika noted that Kenya has united with other Governments in the Continent under the African Group of Negotiators, to call for a decision during the COP26, that will recognize Africa as a ‘Special Circumstances and Needs’ Region.
Meanwhile, CS Tobiko will be leading the Kenyan delegation to attend the 13-day long COP26 convention in Glasgow, commencing on the 31st October to 12th November 2021.
By Michael Omondi
