The opening ceremony of the 27^th Session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place on 6^th November 2022 in Egypt's Sharm El Sheikh City. The conference whose theme is, 'Together for Implementation' runs until 18^th November and will bring world leaders, the private sector, civil society, youth and other key actors to discuss the climate crisis and how to accelerate action.

The Conference of the Parties (COP), is the global decision-making body of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The 198 countries meet every year to review progress and decide on the path forward. Kenya is a member of the Party.

This year, the summit will be focusing on four areas of the climate crisis: mitigation, adaptation, finance, and just transition, that takes into account the development needs of countries, communities and groups most affected by the climate crisis and collaboration. During the opening ceremony, His Excellency Mr Sameh Shoukry an Egyptian Diplomat assumed the COP27 Presidency, taking over from Mr Alok Sharma from the United Kingdom, who has been the COP26 President.

In his acceptance speech, Shoukry said that political support for the COP commitments can overcome the crisis that humanity has been facing. The outgoing President Mr Sharma revealed that only 29 countries have enhanced their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) since COP26 in Glasgow. He urged the rest of the member states to endeavour to meet their commitments to accelerate climate action. The Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Mr Simon Stiell reiterated that this year's COP is for "Action and Implementation".

Kenya will host the Presidential High-Level Side Event on, "Accelerating Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Implementation through Forestry and Range Land Restoration," which will be hosted by the President of Kenya H.E Dr William Samoei Ruto, CGH, on 7th November 2022. This High-Level Summit will unveil Kenya's Special Program on accelerating the achievement of 30% tree cover by 2032 through an ambitious forestry and range land restoration initiative.

KEPSA will be represented at COP27 by the Chair of the Environment, Water and Natural Resources Sector Board, Ms Emily Waita; the Vice-Chair of the Sector Board, Ms Karen Basiye; Climate Business Information Network Kenya representatives and corporate leaders, who will reiterate private sector commitment to climate action following the launch of the Private Sector Strategy on Climate Solutions in Kenya (2022- 2030).

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forestry, Hon. Roslinda Soipan Tuya; the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Mr Davies Chirchir; the Principal Secretary for Environment and UNFCCC National Focal Point, Dr Chris Kiptoo among other national and county government officials are attending the COP27 event.