The Cabinet Secretary of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Ministry, Soipan Tuya said after the 36th ordinary session of the African Union Assembly that Kenya is ready to host the first-ever Africa Climate Summit, as the AU assembly has granted the request and approved Kenya as a co-host to the summit.
“We are here to announce that the plans for the summit have been finalized and Kenya together with African Union Commission is waiting for the world in Nairobi in under three weeks from now,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
In attendance with the Cabinet Secretary was Kenya’s Climate Envoy Ali Mohamed, Kenya’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Jean Kamau, Climate Change Director, Pacifica Ogolla, and NEMA’s Director General, Mamo Mamo.
Tuya said 13,000 delegates have been approved from 136 countries for the first high-level meeting and among those accredited are 13 African Heads of State and representatives of international organizations, civil society, youth, and private sector.
In Addis Ababa on Wednesday, the Cabinet Secretary addressed the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) of the Africa Union and Ministers of Environment from across Africa.
She said during the 19th Ordinary Session of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) that the summit was convened following a 2019 African Union Assembly resolution.
“The African leaders were prompted by the African continent bearing the greatest burden of climate change despite the fact that its current greenhouse emissions gases are very low,” she said, adding that they are also looking forward to a Nairobi Africa Leaders Declaration on Climate Change and call to action.
Tuya revealed that the blueprint will propose a new climate financing architecture to alleviate the continent’s growing debt distress among other provisions. “Africa Climate Summit is going to provide an opportunity for partnerships where Africa and the world are offered trade and investment opportunities, in ways that ensure sustainable development,” she said.
The CS emphasized that Africa is ready to dedicate its resources, particularly its natural capital, agricultural capability, and energy and mineral resources, to driving the global decarbonization agenda.