President William Ruto says Kenya is ready to host the second Africa climate summit if no African country will be up for the challenge.
While speaking on Sunday in Addis Ababa, Ruto stated that Kenya was willing to take up the task while chairing the meeting of the committee of African heads of state and government on climate change at the AU summit.
“Looking ahead, 2025 presents both opportunities and challenges for Africa’s Climate Action Agenda. We must capitalise on the following key areas and moments; 2nd African Climate Summit. Following the AU’s decision for a bi-annual summit, Africa Climate Action will provide a critical platform to access progress and lessons, and strengthen collaboration,” Ruto stated.
In September 2023, the inaugural Africa Climate Summit was held in Kenya where the theme was ,”Adapting to Climate Change: A call for Action.”
Strategies was set out to mitigate climate effects before the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) which was held at Expo city in Dubai.
Over 17 heads of state and government and representatives from businesses, civil societies and the scientific community attended the summit.
The summit backed by the African Union, was supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the government of Kenya as part of a series of events following the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Egypt in November 2022.
The United Nation secretary General Antonio Guterres also attended the event held between September 4 and 5 2023.
The then Cabinet secretary of Foreign affairs Abel Mutua affirmed that the summit would serve as a next step for African countries to champion for the implementation of the ambitious African leaders Nairobi declaration. He added, ” The declaration seeks to launch a renewed ambition for Africa and invite partnerships with the rest of the world.”
On September 20th 2024, Guterres extended an invitation to president Ruto to present the outcomes of the Africa Climate Summit at the high level Climate Ambition Summit in New York.
