Introduction: The third edition of One Planet Summit (COP23) was held in Nairobi on March, 14 2019. The Summit brought together global leaders, entrepreneurs, international organizations, and civil society to help accelerate and focus attention on climate investments in line with the Paris Agreement.
The main themes of the summit focused on the following:
- promoting renewable energy,
- fostering resilience and adaptation, and
- protecting biodiversity in Africa.
2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21)
In the light of the climate emergency, the objectives of the Paris Agreement which was signed in 2015 was aimed at containing global warming below 2°C. This was in accordance with the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The number of participants and the force of the commitments made the Paris Agreement a landmark event unprecedented in the field of climate change negotiations.
The agreement formally came into force on 4 November 2016. The agreement has now been ratified by 169 countries (including the European Union 28) representing 87.75% of emissions.
How did States contribute to the COP21?
Ahead of the COP, each country had to prepare and publish its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC). This mechanism was new and allowed each State involved to participate in a universal effort through a concrete working plan with 2 key focuses:
- reducing GHG emissions by 2025-2030,
- adapting or reducing vulnerability to the effects of climate change.
The contributions were published as and when they were received on the website of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). On 22 November 2015, a week before the conference, 170 countries, accounting for over 90% of emissions, had already published their national contributions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Each contribution had to include quantifiable elements, the benchmark year, the implementation timetable as well as methodologies to quantify greenhouse gas emissions.
The “major emitters”, notably China and the European Union, undertook ambitious commitments.
All countries participated, including the least developed countries which committed to taking steps to reduce their emissions. Several States (Cape Verde, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu) indicated that they wanted to transition to 100% renewable energy within 15 years.
Note:
We at KENPRO have been involved in climate change adaptation program in Kajiado with Nasaru women group. We conducted a feasibility study to assess the viability of fruit farming in Kajiado county.
We are also pioneering the implementation of School Environmental Conservation Program, Kenya aimed at creating health environment while empowering children in schools to become agents of climate change for our common sustainable future.
For any technical support in relation to climate change adaption programs, kindly call 0202319748 or contact us