COP17 African Caravan of Hope

Climate change poses grave development challenges to Kenya, Africa and the whole world and must be combated through adaptation and mitigation.

The above sentiment was voiced by Mr. Ali Mohamed, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources yesterday during a grand function

to flag off the Trans-African Caravan of Hope at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre.

Mr. Ali lauded the holding of the United Nations Climate Change conference in the conitnent.  “The voice of the continent will be heard and listened to at the Durban conference “, he added.

The Permanent Secretary decried the loss of livelihood brought about by the fluctuating climate changes of droughts and persistent floods.

Mr. Ali observed that it was incumbent on African negotiators at the Durban climate conference to be flexible and negotiate for a fair, balanced and comprehensive deal.

To deal with the vagaries of climate change, the Permanent Secretary revealed Kenya has invested in renewable energy and embarked on raising the country’s forest cover to ten percent.

The Permanent Secretary praised the role of artists in educating the public on Sustainable Environmental Conservation.

Speaking during the same occasion, Hon. Phillip Kalokli said the changing weather patterns has adversely affected food production in the country.

The Trans-African Caravan of Hope campaign is a huge mobilization of African countries that will increase awareness about the danger climate change poses to the continent.  The Caravan delegation arrived in Kenya yesterday from Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.  The Caravan brings together communities from diverse backgrounds in Eastern and Southern Africa to join up and demand climate justice before the conference of parties (COP) 17 in Durban, South Africa.

The participating countries are Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana and South Africa. More countries from west and central Africa who are part of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance Campaign Movement will participate in the efforts by promoting the Africa peoples, petition and will join the Caravan en route to Durban.

Different countries have lined up activities aimed at telling the African story on climate change.

Mr Kalua, Green Africa Foundation Chairman, Hon. Wilbur Otichilo of the Parliamentary Network on Renewable Eenergy and Climate Change, and Mr. Mithika Mwenda, the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance Coordinator were also at the flagging off ceremony.

Source:

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources