On 9^th November 2022, KEPSA participated in the UN Global Compact Side Event hosted by the Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC) in Sharma El Sheikh, Egypt on the sidelines of the Conference of the Parties of the 27^th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27). The side event provided a unique opportunity for the African private sector to commit to ambitious climate actions for the continent.

Themed, ‘Climate Action Now, A Critical Priority for African Business Leaders’, the forum convened prominent business leaders, United Nations officials, members of Governments, and representatives of development agencies to discuss African business leaders' perspectives on climate change, their commitments, and their call to action for the global community. The Session signified the private sector's role in creating positive momentum for climate action in Africa. KEPSA was represented by Ms Karen Basiye - Vice-Chair, KEPSA Environment, Water and Natural Resources Sector Board, and Mr Peter Ndegwa - Safaricom CEO.

Speaking at the Session, Ms Sanda Ojiambo - Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact said, “If the world does not follow through its commitment to the African continent, there will be global losses.”

The president of the African Development Bank, Mr Akinwumi Adesina, delivered the keynote address and gave a rallying call by stating the need to leverage institutional investments. “Together, let’s change how we power business and let’s make business across Africa greener,” he said.

“It will take collaboration from all of us, and whether it is from the private sector or the public, we are not doing it for ourselves; we are doing it for the future,” Remarked Ms Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa – CEO of Naspers South Africa during the meeting.

Other keynote highlights during the event included, ‘Companies that are succeeding are those that have a climate plan,’ Relayed by Ms Sharon Burrow - General Secretary of International Trade Union Confederation.

Mr Peter Ndegwa said, "This historic statement brings together the African Climate perspective on crucial topics – most importantly, it defines specific climate action as seen from the African Private Sector."

With the declaration, the African Business committed to following key actions to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, supporting Africa's transition towards 1.5 degrees future, to build a thriving continent rooted in a resilient, green, and competitive economy with opportunities for our youth and future generations.

The Business Leaders Climate Statement, signed by 56 African companies, includes bold commitments to climate action for securing a sustainable future for Africa. It includes, among other actions, a commitment to developing robust company resilience plans to improve adaptive capacity and build systemic resilience by explicitly accounting for climate risks in business and investments.

Through the Climate Business Information Network- Kenya (CBIN-K), KEPSA, in partnership with Kenya Climate Innovation Centre, Consulting Limited (KCL), led the private sector in Kenya in 2020 to make a ‘Business Commitment to Climate Action’ comprising of the 10-point charter for both corporates and Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) in articulating the business climate actions for resilience and transformation.