Green energy strategy to deal with climate change

By: Rosalia Omungo on February 8th, 2010

The Kenyan government is seeking international financial support as it prepares to embrace green energy. Kenyan Environment Minister John Michuki says that Kenya’s newly launched  Climate Change Response Strategy will require an estimated 3 billion US dollars as a start-up fund to help vulnerable communities cope with climate change. This would however be a significant proportion of the 10 billion dollars proposed for African countries during a meeting of the African group delegation of the Copenhagen climate change negotiations, chaired by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

‘If you take 3 billion dollars out of the 10 that is being offered here, what will be left for the rest of the world?’  Michuki posed

The amount is considered low given that Kenya would be drawing it from the 10 billion meant for the continent.

The  proposal put forward by Zenawi calls for a three year, 30 billion dollar  fund starting in 2010. This means 10 billion dollars  per year initially, to finance all developing countries in dealing with climate change.The effects include rising sea levels, droughts, floods and changing rainfall patterns. 

Kenya’s geothermal steam reserves are among the resources earmarked for exploitation under its Climate Change Response Strategy. These are estimated at 7000 megawatts, and are expected to reduce the country’s dependency on fossil fuels. Environment Minister Michuki said that wind energy initiatives in particular must be scaled up, noting that Kenya needs to borrow a leaf from the Danish government’s commitment to wind power.

According to the minister, the proposed 3 billion dollar fund is expected to grow to 20 billion US dollars by 2030. The launch of the Kenya Climate Change Response Strategy coincided with an assurance from the US government that it will help raise 100 billion dollars to assist developing countries in coping with climate change.

Michuki says that Kenya aims to become a green energy economy by 2020, as part of the ‘Vision 2030′ strategy. Kenya Vision 2030 is an economic  development plan by the  Kenyan Government to develop several different economic zones in various parts of the country. The plan aims to produce annual economic growth rates of 10%.

Michuki said that private investors will be invited on board. ’These projects are expected to provide an additional 1230 MW and 1500 MW by 2012 and 2014.

The response strategy’s mitigation and adaptation components cover key areas including health, agriculture and wildlife conservation.

Climate change has impacted greatly on wildlife and humanity. Kenya has had its fair share of calamities, from extreme prolonged droughts which occasioned crop failure, hunger and even death in extreme cases, to recent flooding from El Nino rains. How seriously the Kenyan government is taking climate change is perhaps indicated by the large number of Kenyan delegates at the Copenhagen negotiations, where a deal that would see vulnerable communities get help to cope with the vagaries of climate change is expected to be signed.

‘This is an ambitious and comprehensive programme.  It will not only address the adverse impacts of climate change on Kenya, but will also contribute significantly to taming global warming’, said Michuki.

Wildlife and Forestry Minister Dr. Noah Wekesa underscored the need to conserve Kenya’s water towers which are currently under threat of extinction due to massive encroachment by settlers. A case in point is the Mau Forest Complex: this initially spanned an area of about 400,000 hectares, but about 100,000 hectares have been excised  for agriculture use. Dr. Wekesa said that engaging in partnerships with the private sector and even international organizations will help increase Kenya’s forest cover, which is currently below 2 percent.

‘The issue of concessioning is at the forefront. We are asking foreigners to come so we can give them huge tracks of land to plant trees.’

Issues to be addressed in the strategy include reafforestation, arresting land degradation, the protection of wildlife, flora and fauna, and how to help people mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Wetangula noted that Africa is endowed with tropical rain forests. He urged for a deal to be reached in Copenhagen that will save its resources and its people.

‘I have every hope that the voice of Africa, the needs of Africa,  the continent that pollutes least but suffers most will be listened to; the continent that has been at the very centre and in the firing line of all the problems of climate change is going to be given a clear hearing and above all be at the center of solutions that are being set out to cater for climate change.’

The two week conference comes to a close on Friday.