The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) in partnership with the National Treasury and Planning, Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on 1^st November 2022 launched the Kenya private sector strategy on climate change solutions (2022 - 2030).

The Strategy aims to promote coordinated and inclusive implementation of business climate change solutions anchored in four pillars namely, Climate change mitigation ambition, Climate change adaptation and resilience ambition, Climate information and capacity building and Public-Private Partnerships for climate change.

Present during the event was Ms Martha Cheruto - KEPSA Deputy CEO, Projects and Foundation; Ms Emily Waita – Chair, KEPSA Environment, Water and Natural Resources Sector Board together with the Sector Board’s Vice-Chairs Ms Karen Basiye and Dr John Wandaka; Mr George Aluru – Chair, KEPSA Energy and Extractive Sector Board; Mamo B. Mamo - Director General, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA); Mr Hamisi Williams – Assistant FAO Representative in Kenya; Dr Olufunso Osomorin – Reginal Principal Officer Green Growth and Climate, African Development Bank; Mr Amos Njoroge Gatheca, EBS - Principal Administrative Secretary – National Treasury and Planning; Mr Brian Muthoka – Representative, Council of Governors among other stakeholders.

Following the launch, the strategy will serve as the basis of private sector-driven decisions on climate change and presents the sector’s foremost step towards enhancing climate change mitigation and adaptation through investment, awareness creation and directing resources to combat climate change for business sustainability.

Speaking during the launch, KEPSA Deputy CEO Martha Cheruto, noted that the private sector faces significant exposure to climate risk through its assets, operations, and supply chains, and thus has considerable reason to invest in climate risk management, to not only protect itself but also to harness new business opportunities arising from the changing climate.

"The Private Sector Strategy on Climate Change Solutions in Kenya identifies actions that the private sector will take between 2022 and 2030 in contributing to the achievement of the government climate change targets and is positioned to be Kenya's Business Commitment to Climate Action(B2CAK) for both Corporates and SMEs," said Ms Cheruto.

Ms Cheruto added that the private sector has a clear agenda to address climate change challenges, not only through the mobilization of funds and technical resources but to also innovate and develop solutions to alleviate climate change risks and efficiently direct resources toward national climate and development priorities.

The strategy has been developed using a multistakeholder approach through The Green Climate Fund (GCF) NAP Readiness Support Project on ‘Enhancing Capacity for Planning and Effective Implementation of Climate Change Adaptation in Kenya’. The project’s outcome on the private sector is to strengthen and institutionalize private sector participation and investment in climate change adaptation.

Mr Hamisi Williams of FAO noted that adverse climatic events in the recent past have caused major socio-economic impacts affecting the whole country and continue to derail economic development while adding to the financial liability of drought and floods, habitat loss including biodiversity in plant and wildlife resources, as well as threats to coastal zones through continued rising sea-levels.

"Today over 4.5 million Kenyans are facing the extreme risks of climate change through starvation with over 2.5 million livestock already lost to hunger. Kenya, therefore, needs to change its approaches by investing in technology in building the necessary ecosystem to help mitigate the effects of climate change and related risks such as drought, floods and for the first time after 70 years, locust infestation in 2019-2022, which was further worsened by the COVID 19 pandemic," he said.

The strategy launch comes ahead of the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2022, scheduled for Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt from 7th  to 18th November 2022, which will boost climate conversations, mobilize action, and provide an important opportunity for stakeholders to consider the current and emerging impacts of climate change in Africa.

Mamo B. Mamo, the Director General of NEMA, while delivering the keynote address on behalf of Dr Chris Kiptoo, PS Ministry of Environment and Forestry, said the strategy offers the private sector an opportunity to set institutional and strategic mechanisms to galvanize resources toward a unified national climate and development priorities approach.

"Addressing the impacts of climate change and promoting green growth, necessitates a concerted effort from both the state and non-state actors. This strategy, therefore, will not only enhance investment in climate adaptation and mitigation actions but will also promote coordination and effectiveness of the private sector’s response to climate change by the country’s plans, policies, strategies, and programs,” said Mr Mamo.

Mr Amos Njoroge of National Treasury and Planning noted that with an estimated 84% of the country's land mass classified as Arid or Semi-Arid, Kenya shall continue experiencing extreme risks of climate change if adequate and timely interventions are not instituted.

 “Engaging the private sector in climate change solutions is imperative since the sector can mobilize financial and technical resources needed for climate actions and awareness creation on the risks and opportunities arising from climate change. This includes developing solutions to alleviate the risks while co-opting, even more, implementing partners in this journey. As the National Treasury, we are committed to supporting the private sector through this course,” Remarked Mr Njoroge.

In a presentation on the Business Case for Investing in Climate Action, Ms Emily Waita noted that the private sector has an opportunity to invest in climate change risk management to provide adaptation for business continuity. She further urged the private sector to take lead in agricultural support, wastewater management, weather and climate network to provide early warning of changing weather among other interventions.

The launch was attended by over 150 high-level participants drawn from government agencies, private sector, and non-government and multilateral organizations implementing climate action in Kenya, providing a strategic platform for multi-sector players to network and define common synergies leading for Kenya Climate Change Actions and Commitments ahead of COP27.