Kenya joins push for green pledge at conference

Kenya has joined other developing nations to push for global funding for climate adaptation during the ongoing 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, or COP 26, in order to meet the growing needs of vulnerable communities.

The eastern African country called on developed nations to fulfill their pledge to provide $100 billion annually for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

"I am sure you have been hearing about the $100 billion pledge, a commitment that was made 10 years ago, and would have been delivered by 2020. But that never happened, 2020 came and passed," said Keriako Tobiko, Kenya's cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

Tobiko said developed nations were shifting goal posts on the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

He said rich countries should urgently fulfill their Paris pledges for Kenya and other developing nations so as to fulfill their obligations of protecting and securing their infrastructure and populations from the adverse effects of climate change.

"Adaptation is building the capacity to deal with devastation. To do that, we need resources. Adaptation has to be maintained with finance. The country has been struggling to protect itself," Tobiko said. "The developed countries are the largest emitters and are not supporting in terms of finance and technology."

He said Africa bears the brunt of climate change, witnessing devastation of floods when it rains and drought when it does not rain.

"We are always in a state of emergency. Kenya is one of the most vulnerable countries and the least emitters of carbon. For us, it is about adaptation and ensuring our people, communities and economy have the necessary resilience to recover when this happens," Tobiko said.

Dire consequences

He warned that if COP 26 fails to resolve the emissions reduction issue as well as the implementation of the Paris Agreement, it will be devastating for humanity and the globe.

Atmospheric temperatures are expected to rise by 2.7 C by the end of this century.

"The trajectory now is if no action is taken, we are looking at 2.7 C atmospheric temperatures as opposed to 1.5 C at the end of this century. That is grave and especially for Africa because of its geographical location," he said.

"If this COP fails, we are talking about irreversible consequences. This COP is the last COP because we are at the tipping point. And this is the COP that will either save humanity and the planet from irreversible consequences, or not."

In addition to urging the full implementation of the Paris Agreement, African countries will also push for the adoption of the special needs and circumstances agenda during the conference, given that the continent suffers the most from climate change despite being the least emitters of greenhouse gasses.

"We are calling on the biggest emitters, the G20 nations which contribute 80 percent of greenhouse emissions and control about 80 percent of the world's gross domestic product, to bear the greatest responsibility," Tobiko said.

Delegates from about 200 countries are meeting during the two-week Glasgow conference and are expected to present their plans on achieving net-zero emissions reduction targets.