Nairobi City County hosted partners to a round table meeting to discuss Climate Change issues.
The stakeholders meeting which was organized in collaboration with Kenya Green Building Society, C40 Cities, and other partners sought to identify key implementation partners for the Nairobi City County Climate Action Plan and also seek support for the upcoming Climate Change Summit in Nairobi later in September.
Speaking at the event, the city County Executive for Green Nairobi Ms. Maureen Njeri noted that through strong partnership, the implementation of the Nairobi City County Climate action plan 2020-2050 will no longer be a dream.
“It will be achieved through the development of relevant regulations to co-create resources for education, sensitization, and awareness Programmes for Nairobi residents across the City on climate change; provide technical support to the County in accessing the Green Climate finance that will support climate adaptation and mitigation interventions,” she said
Njeri disclosed that the County has already begun to implement its Climate Action Plan, through a collaborative and extensive engagement process, undertaken by the Green Nairobi sector. She said the sector has identified the actions with the highest emission reduction potential and is in the process of developing a roadmap to take the county from the status quo and put it on a trajectory towards net zero.
“We have also established a Climate Action Steering Committee within the city with representation from all sectors, to ensure that the entire administration is consciously working towards this target,” said Njeri.
The County Executive mentioned that the sector has received a lot of support in areas where environmental and Climate change matters are concerned from Governor Johnson Sakaja and that the county is committed to implementing the Action Plan to the latter.
According to the county executive member, some of the interventions being undertaken by the county in mitigating Climate change include enhancement of tree cover through a tree planting programme and interventions on Nairobi river regeneration with support from Nairobi Rivers Commission among many other interventions.
“This workshop not only opens the road map to the city endeavors to the summit but also provides an opportunity to showcase our city’s ability to attract dignity, order, hope, and opportunity for all,” she noted.
The County Director for Environment and Natural Resources Mr. Paul Malawi lauded the stakeholders present for coming together to deliberate on issues affecting the county and working towards getting solutions for the City of Nairobi.
Deputy Director of Climate Change and Air Quality Monitoring Mr Maurice Kavai, on her part, noted that the city has committed to play its part to reduce the growth of future emissions through the development of a Climate Action Plan.
“Through such partnerships with stakeholders, the city aims to transition to a lower emissions and resilient future through; low carbon solutions and climate-proofing the transport infrastructure, transitioning to a circular economy, climate proofing housing stock, working towards clean and zero waste city, clean and secure energy city, urban development, water resource management, and resilient food systems among other climate action priority areas,” said Kavai.
He said the County will continually review and update the Climate Action Plan in order to explore opportunities to increase ambition in the future and strengthen the mainstreaming of climate change in the County’s Integrated Development Plan and Annual Development Plans.
The Nominated Member of the County Assembly Nasra Nanda, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Green Building Society called on the stakeholders to look for ways to help the County succeed in achieving its Climate Action Plan.
Nairobi County Climate Action Plan is a detailed and strategic document highlighting the efforts the City administration intends to carry out in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience and capacity to adapt to the related climate impacts.
It offers a road map for making informed decisions and understanding where and how to achieve the largest and most economical emission reductions in line with other city and national policies, strategies, and planning.
