Climate risks pose serious threats to Kenya’s sustainable development goals. With the largest economy in East Africa and a population of 54 million, Kenya serves as the region’s financial, trade, and communications hub. The country’s economy is largely dependent on rainfed agriculture and tourism, each susceptible to climate variability and change and extreme weather events.

Kenya’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) notes that successive climate change impacts result in socio-economic losses estimated at 3-4 percent of Gross Domestic Product annually and impede development efforts. Even though Kenya contributes less than 0.1 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually, the global carbon emissions are rising. A #IPCC #ClimateReport from the UN shows that we are way off-track to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Emissions have increased to record levels and our planet is still heavily dependent on polluting fossil fuels. Time is running out. To scale up climate solutions, some of the solutions that can tackle climate change include a shift to solar power to energy-saving tech, electrified transport, greener buildings, planet-based diets and protecting & restoring nature. We can invest in our future and protect people and nature, but we must act now.

With that in mind, WWF has helped Kenya implement policies and measures to pursue a low carbon and resilient development pathway to realize its Vision 2030 to transform Kenya into a newly industrializing, middle-income country.

#RisingEmissions  #ClimateChange   #ActontheScience