President Ruto on Monday handed over Sh 7.2 billion to counties under the Financing Locally-LED Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme in the form of county climate change investment grants. The FLLoCA programme seeks to enhance Kenya’s climate adoption through financing, technology and capacity building.
“The grants, together with Sh3 billion of county own-resource allocations, will finance local climate action priorities in agriculture, water and natural resources management in every county,” Ruto said.
Meanwhile, the President Ruto has urged African governments to increase their investments in green opportunities to unlock the continent’s potential.
The President called for investment in renewable energy, green industrialization, climate-smart agriculture, and nature conservation. He said this would accelerate global decarbonization, fuel sustainable development, drive economic growth and create millions of jobs.
“We must see in green growth not just a climate imperative, but also a fountain of multi-billion-dollar economic opportunities that Africa and the World is primed to capitalise on,” he said.
He made the remarks during the ministerial conference at the Africa Climate Summit, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi. President Ruto said Africa must prepare to become a global hub in the green industrial supply chain.
“The continent has enough potential to be entirely self-sufficient with the mix of wind, solar, geothermal, sustainable biomass and hydropower,” he added.
Kenya, he observed, is leading the way in the adoption of renewable energy, which accounts for 92 per cent of its power.
“Our ambition is audacious yet achievable: 100 per cent renewable by 2030 and a 100 Giga Watt grid, entirely renewable, by 2040,” he said.
The President challenged African states to invest in value addition of raw materials and abandon the minimalist, short-term, raw-material-based approach.
“The time has come for us to break out of the shackles of low ambition. We must now begin to aim higher and strive for more, and better outcomes,” he said.
President Ruto further said that Africa should leverage its agricultural land assets to enhance the continent’s food security and monetize agricultural systems.
Africa Climate Summit: Over Two Dozen Heads of State and Government to Attend – Kenyan Wallstreet
Inaugural Africa Climate Summit Ministerial Day; Path to Resilient and Sustainable Future