President Ruto honoured with global award for advancing climate action

President William Ruto has been honoured with the 2024 Presidential Green Industrialisation Investment Statesman of the Year Award, recognising his dedication to climate action.

This accolade was presented during the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) extraordinary session held alongside the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on September 25, 2024.

Ruto, who serves as the chair of CAHOSCC, led discussions focused on advocating for fair and effective climate financing that addresses the specific needs of Africa and other developing nations.

The session emphasised the urgency of a unified African stance ahead of COP29, scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan.

At the session, the Head of State stressed the importance of pushing for a new and equitable climate financing mechanism, one that reflects the scale of the crisis and provides the necessary support for vulnerable regions.

He specifically highlighted the need for increased global investment in energy transition, calling for a boost from the current 3 per cent to significantly higher levels in order to foster climate adaptation.

"These investments will enable low carbon, climate-resilient development, not only for Africa but also for the global community," Ruto stated.

Investment

He urged the international community to invest in Africa's resources, pointing to areas such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green transport, and nature-based solutions as key to achieving effective climate adaptation.

The President also addressed the issue of debt sustainability, noting that many African nations struggle with high debt servicing costs, which limit their ability to finance green resilience projects.

"As climate-related shocks become more frequent and severe, coupled with high debt servicing, government spending on green resilience is constrained," Ruto explained, adding that high interest rates and credit downgrades further hinder refinancing efforts.

This award in the US is not the first recognition President Ruto has received for his leadership.

In May 2024 during his state visit to the US, he was presented with the Outstanding Leaders Award by the American Chamber of Commerce.

The award was handed to him by US Chamber of Commerce President Suzanne P. Clark during the Kenya-US Business Forum in Washington, D.C.

"In recognition of your work to promote and advance business-led solutions and your steadfast commitment to trade and investment initiatives to grow Kenya's economy, it is my honour to present to you the US Africa Business Center Outstanding Leaders Award," Clark said during the presentation.

Ruto became only the fourth recipient of the US Africa Business Center Outstanding Leaders Award, cementing his growing international profile as a champion for both economic growth and environmental sustainability.