By Hon. Soipan Tuya and Dr. Agnes Kalibata
In line with global trends, Kenya has seen a significant temperature increase of 0.3°C to 0.6°C per decade, impacting critical sectors like agriculture and water resources. This rapid warming trend was an important focus at the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS23) in Nairobi last month, which, among others, highlighted the link between climate change, regional food systems and economic transformation. The ACS23 emphasized the consequences of inaction on food security and economic sovereignty, rallying Africa’s unified climate agenda ahead of the UAE’s 28th UN climate change conference (COP28).
Concurrently, the 2023 Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS Forum 23) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, stressed African governments’ urgent need for climate-responsive solutions to address the continent’s food system challenges. Kenya’s President, Dr William Ruto, has since come through on his promise to explore greener and environmentally friendly fertilizers alongside a 10-year initiative to grow 15 billion trees by 2032, raising Kenya’s tree cover to 30%, enhancing carbon sequestration, restoring 5.1 million hectares of deforested areas, and benefiting households as 30% of these trees will be fruit, nut, and fodder species.
President Ruto has also banned single-use plastic bags and initiated trials for biodegradable tubing bags in line with a United Nations resolution from UNEA 5.2. Meanwhile, Kenya is at the forefront of climate change efforts in Africa, with the Climate Change Act of 2016 and recent amendments to enhance its carbon market regime driving its responses. The government is also actively implementing the third cycle of the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP III) to promote low-carbon, climate-resilient development.
Yet even as we celebrate these great interventions, we must recognize that climate change is a complex issue that no single country can solve independently; a collaborative approach involving partnerships across national governments, the private sector and the international community is required for rapid transformation.
We are glad to report that African leaders are focusing their development strategies on sustainable solutions at national and continental levels. The Africa Environment Action Plan, the Africa Clean Energy Corridor, and the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative indicate the continent’s strategic commitment to addressing the climate crisis. The actions proposed in these initiatives were restated in the Nairobi Declaration, which summed up the outcomes of the ACS23. Africa’s common position on food systems will benefit from cross-sectional collaboration to ensure resource efficiency and high-impact transformation.
The Declaration comprises 23 commitments, primarily addressing policy areas related to investment attraction, economic development (with a focus on youth empowerment), enhanced continental cooperation, increased renewable energy financing, support for small-scale farmers, and the expedited implementation of the African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032). Notably, the Declaration emphasizes the need for global collaboration to secure adequate capital for both development and climate initiatives, echoing the principles of the Paris Pact for People and the Planet, which aims to ensure that no country must choose between its development goals, climate action and the fundamental human right to feed people.
The time is now for environmental, energy and food systems experts to resolutely come together to help the continent fight hunger and land degradation and ensure economic prosperity,
Hence, Africa is capitalizing on the momentum of ACS23 and AFS Forum 23 to prioritize its climate discussions and facilitate decision-making areas most critical to Africa globally. This was evident at the recent UN General Assembly (UNGA). Africa’s key concerns, such as transitioning to a low-carbon economy and improving living standards, building resilience to climate shocks, especially for rain-fed agricultural nations, were common in speeches and discussions. Coming off the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed vulnerabilities, there is a strong focus on fast-tracking climate action and development, as emphasized by Africa’s delegation at UNGA.
Our countries are up against a huge task: the need to transform food systems to feed people, rehabilitate and safeguard the environment, and ensure resilience to shocks caused by the ongoing climate change. There is no doubt that African leaders are more committed than ever to building on the lessons of the recent crisis that our continent has faced to deliver stronger resilience for people, the environment, and our economies. Indeed, it is not an easy undertaking which will require stronger collaboration.
AGRA has developed transferable assets in technology, system-strengthening partnerships and models that can benefit women, youth, and smallholder farmers in Kenya and across the continent. We are enthusiastic about collaborating with the Kenya government, like-minded institutions and the private sector to unlock potential here in Kenya and across the continent.
With a shared vision and united mission leveraging stronger collaboration across sectors and countries, we’re confident of paving the way for growth, prosperity, and lasting change in this diverse country.
Hon. Tuya is the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Kenya; Dr Kalibata is the President of AGRA
