Climate Change

Africa is at the beginning of its urbanisation journey, the most rapid the world has ever seen. However, it cannot follow the same high-carbon industrialisation model that wealthier nations used.

Forecasters warn of potentially depressed rainfall in upcoming months, particularly in northern counties, further exacerbating food insecurity and compounding health crises amid epidemics.

Data by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction shows an estimated three to four million Kenyans are affected annually by natural and human-made disasters.

UN has challenged the world’s largest carbon-emitting countries to adopt zero-carbon building energy codes by 2028, with all other nations following suit by 2035.

Missouri reported the largest number of deaths, 12 fatalities spanning five counties, the state's highway patrol posted on X.

The African Union is looking to Maathai's pioneering work in conservation as a roadmap for creating a sustainable future.

KFS officials warn that the fire season, driven by high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds, is expected to last until mid-March.

Authorities suspect that the fires were caused by human activities such as discarded cigarettes, arson and honey harvesting, combined with extremely dry conditions.

Compounding the crisis are floods in riverine areas, conflicts in central and southern Somalia, and displacement.

FAO says the project will focus on six key agricultural value chains: Dairy, poultry, coffee, tea, fruit trees, and African leafy vegetables.

According to Clean Air Fund's 2020 State of the Global Air report, more than 5,000 premature deaths in Nairobi are linked to air pollution-related illnesses.

The global economic think tank, Wef, therefore reckons that the continent faces a significant climate financing gap, causing the region to miss out on a major investment opportunity.

Africa has a huge problem with trying to build some resilience to the effects of climate change, such as floods and drought. Economic development is also a challenge on the continent.

The report warns that the ongoing destruction of forests costs the economy at least three per cent of its gross domestic product annually.

The crisis is already forcing families to leave their homes in search of food, water, and medical aid, raising concerns about displacement and worsening protection risks.

Although the president did not provide a breakdown of the locations and timelines for the tree planting, the figures suggest that Kenyans planted an average of 2,050,000 trees daily throughout the year, including weekends and public holidays.

He highlighted Kenya’s progress in reforestation and climate action while urging global leaders to prioritise environmental conservation.

Globally, around 242 million students in 85 countries faced interruptions in their schooling due to extreme weather events such as heatwaves, cyclones and floods.

If the US stayed in the tent under Trump, its negotiators could, for example, agitate to weaken any deals struck at future COP meetings. We saw such tactics from Saudi Arabia at COP29 in Baku.

Tpkasticepalashe new facility offers a solution, promising to transform waste into reusable materials while creating jobs and fostering a cleaner environment.

An early to normal onset of rains is expected in most areas, though ICPAC said delays are likely in central Kenya, southern Ethiopia, and central Somalia.

In his first 24 hours in office, Trump repealed the United States' participation in the Paris Agreement for the second time.

Calls are being made for people to return to positive traditional practices that helped conserve the environment, as highlighted during this year's National Defence College (NDC) Cultural Day held at the Uhuru Gardens National Museum and Monument.

The study found that forest-dwelling chimpanzees showed changes in genes associated with disease resistance.

Looking ahead to 2025, scientists predict it is unlikely to be another record-breaking year.

Climate change is driven by the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases caused by the continued burning of fossil fuels.

Extreme weather has swept around the world in 2024, with severe drought hitting Italy and South America, fatal floods in Nepal, Sudan and Europe.

The move to hold manufacturers accountable is part of a broader government effort to restore Nairobi's river systems.

Even though Africa contributes little to global emissions, it is already facing severe effects of climate change, like more droughts, floods, and rising temperatures.

The floods have caused widespread destruction, with multi-agency teams, including the National Disaster Operations Centre and the Kenya Red Cross, leading response efforts.

The ongoing drought has led families with children and adolescents to be constantly on the move or to go to emergency camps where they are at risk of violence or abuse.

The petrochemical industry has also been vocal in urging governments to avoid setting mandatory plastic production caps.

Kenya's latest 2020 update was classified among the most ambitious pledges and was submitted to the NDC Registry held by UNFCCC.

Fiji’s Attorney General Graham Leung called the hearings a historic opportunity for small island developing states in their quest for climate change justice.

The report predicts that these numbers will increase in the coming years due to climate change, which is expected to cause more frequent and severe forest fires.

India's states are unprepared for the rapid rise in renewable generating capacity, lack adequate transmission infrastructure and storage and would rather rely on fossil fuel.

The target, or new collective quantified goal (NCQG), will replace the existing $100 billion goal that is due to expire in 2025.

The agreement hinged on ensuring credibility in the system so it can reliably lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change.

Past failures to meet climate finance obligations have also made developing countries mistrustful of new promises.

Africa is one of the most affected regions by climate change and its current and historical greenhouse gas emissions are minuscule at the global scale.

In many places, women are the primary caregivers for children, the sick or the elderly, as well as being responsible for cooking and cleaning in the household.

Compared to the latest funding figures of 2023, when they directed $74.7 billion (Sh9.7 trillion) to developing nations, the pledge translates to a 60.6 per cent increment in funding.

Delegates from developing nations are calling for more and faster progress on new funding for loss and damage and accelerated clean energy goals.

More than 40 million children were kept out of classrooms this year, from Asia to Africa, due to extreme heat, which scientists say has been made worse and more frequent by climate change.

The World Bank attributes the ongoing vulnerability to the lack of comprehensive social insurance programmes designed to safeguard a broader segment of the population.

The funding will also support the co-designing of services with communities in Garissa and Tana River, ensuring they have timely and tailored weather climate information.

Many Western governments arrived in Baku reluctant to pledge big sums.

COP29 host Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev accused Western countries of hypocrisy for lecturing others while still being major consumers and producers of fossil fuels.

The new system also involves specialised material recovery facilities where waste will be sorted into wet and dry categories.

The report identifies 16 hunger hotspots worldwide, including Kenya, where climate-related events, conflict, and economic instability are pushing vulnerable communities to the brink of starvation.

Scientists say evidence shows global warming and its impacts are unfolding faster than expected.

As the COP29 discussions unfold, Kenya's delegation is pushing for comprehensive financial reforms, particularly in the way developing nations receive support to adapt to climate change.

The global climate finance gap remains a critical issue as countries and communities in the Global South face worsening climate impacts.

In recent years, a series of climate-fuelled disasters and extreme events, from Australia’s bushfires to Spain’s floods, have wrought havoc around the world.

Climate change policies must address women’s unique challenges. By focusing on improving women’s capabilities – meaning their opportunities – it is possible to protect them from the impacts of climate change.

The COP29 talks begin on November 11, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Wario's message to the government is that more support is needed to help communities like hers adapt to climate change.

Scientists say 2024 will also be the first year in which the planet is more than 1.5C hotter than in the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period when humans began burning fossil fuels on an industrial scale.

The effects of climate change are causing unprecedented floods, drought and other disasters across Africa. Yet it is becoming more difficult for African countries to access the climate finance they need to adapt to a warming world.

If global warming reaches 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), which could happen as early as the 2050s, such downpours are expected to occur nearly every year in the affected regions.

As global demand for carbon credits increases, experts have argued that marginalised communities are well placed and strategically located to engage in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Alongside Kenya, 10 other nations including Algeria, Chad, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, The Gambia, Nigeria, Guinea, and the Central African Republic participated in the meeting.

In the period under review, freshwater populations suffered the heaviest declines, falling by 85 per cent.

The CS cited the Athi Water and Sewerage Company and the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company as some of the largest polluters.

The Environment CS commended the public for participating in the government's ambitious plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032.

The uncertainty and fear associated with climate change heighten anxiety among young people.

The 610 species combined represented 3 billion years of unique evolutionary history, the researchers said.

Kenya currently spends $500 million (Sh64.5 billion) a month on petroleum imports.

Many emphasised the need for climate solutions that address their communities' specific needs and realities.

Ruto awarded the 2024 Presidential Green Industrialisation Investment Statesman of the Year Award, recognising his dedication to climate action.

Under an initiative led by Barbados, France and Kenya, countries also continue to discuss imposing new global taxes to help pay for climate finance, such as a financial transaction tax or a shipping tax.

The Mandera Municipality Greening Programme changed the landscape of the municipality from a dusty town to a lush, green hub.

The President emphasised that those found discharging raw sewage or waste into the river will face legal consequences.

The exclusion of Mombasa has sparked concern among local stakeholders, who argue that the county is missing out on vital resources that could address pressing environmental issues.

The visit marked Duale's initial efforts to familiarise himself with the ministry’s key areas during his early days in office.

In his speech, Duale emphasised his deep understanding of environmental laws and his determination to enforce them.

He also called for the preservation of the forest through fencing and urged the private sector to intervene by rebranding degraded areas.

The Treasury said on Thursday that the funds will be distributed over five years through the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme.

The Climate Action Project will see community organisations at the grassroots equipped to sensitise the communities on building their resilience to climate change, owing to its devastating impact on their livelihoods.

The Santiago Network Advisory Board decided to relocate the hub from Geneva to the Philippines, a country in the Global South.

Britam Group managing director and CEO, Tom Gitogo, said the launch of the Sustainability Report marks a significant milestone in the company's journey towards integrating sustainability into every aspect of its business.

"Communities deserve a voice at the ward level," Phylis Muema, a resident, stated. 

The president, named by Time Magazine in 2023 as one of the world's 100 most influential leaders shaping global climate, said it is now clear that climate change presents serious challenges to food security and economic recovery.

He emphasised that the world is moving away from a traditional understanding of security and threats as hostile armed parties that attack physically to groups that can organise and deploy internally and globally at other, more insidious levels. 

Ruto highlighted that the frequency of extreme weather events continuously diminishes the resources available for public investment and the provision of critical public goods such as healthcare, education, and other social services.

Gachagua, while officially opening the International Energy Agency (IEA) conference at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, added that Kenya is leading the world in the march towards 100 per cent green clean energy.