In preparation for the oncoming Africa Climate Summit that will run from September 4 to 8 at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry CS Soipan Tuya, unveiled the African Union meeting Secretariat Office in Nairobi.
The unveiling marked the commencement of the Africa Climate Summit, a summit of African Heads of State and Government on climate-themed Africa Together for Bold, innovative and Resourced Climate Action will Unlock Climate Finance and Green Investments.
According to Environment CS, who leads the Executive Oversight Committee alongside her Foreign and Diaspora Affairs counterpart Alfred Mutua and Ambassador Jossefa Sacko of AUC, commencing these preparations is gratifying and all gratitude to the AU member states and leadership for putting their trust in Kenya a reflection of confidence in our leadership.
CS Soipan Tuya emphasized that Kenya being granted the honor of co-hosting the event by the Africa Union follows an offer by President William Ruto to host which was granted by the AU to advance the course of the continent.
“Ruto in his capacity as the Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) offered for Kenya to host the Africa Climate Summit and the offer was unanimously approved on 19th February 2023 during the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,” she said.
This convention is vital as it will aid in developing the continent’s green growth blueprint, additionally, consolidate Africa’s voice ahead of this year’s 28th UN Conference of Parties (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates. The twin event will bring to Nairobi over 10,000 delegates including Heads of State and Government and their delegations; representatives of UN agencies and other multilateral institutions; civil society entities; and a host of other interest groups.
“The Summit will provide a platform for consolidating Africa’s voice ahead of this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit in September, and COP28 in the United Arab Emirates later in the year,” Tuya said.
Through Africa Climate Week participants are expected to strike new partnerships that will increase climate financing and enhance investments in low-carbon and climate-resilient development in Africa.
The summit is envisioned as a way out for Africa in addressing key gaps as clean energy is sought after. Low carbon emissions also need to be enacted.
It will delve into exploring six thematic areas covering; climate finance, mitigation and green growth, climate adaptation and resilience, loss and damage, climate vulnerable groups, and research innovation and technology.
Africa Climate Summit and Africa Climate Week Secretariat is led by the Director for Climate Change at Kenya’s Ministry for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Dr Pacifica Ogolla, and Leah Wanambwa of the African Union Commission (AUC).
The Planning and Steering Committee is to be headed by Festus Ngeno, Principal Secretary in Kenya’s State Department for Environment and Climate Change, his Foreign Affairs counterpart Korir Sing’oei and Harsen Nyambe Nyambe, AUC’s Director for Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy.
President Ruto, as he champions clean energy will lead the Executive Committee with his Union of the Comoros counterpart Azali Assoumani and AUC Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Africa Climate Summit and Africa Climate Week shall consist of pre-events staged by various stakeholder groups including youth, civil society, the private sector, and academia.
