Kenya among countries yet to commit to reducing greenhouse emissions

Paris, France: Kenya is among 153 countries that have not declared how they intend to reduce pollution of the atmosphere by limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

So far, only three African countries namely, Gabon, Morocco and Ethiopia have submitted their Intended National Determinant contributions (INDCs), to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat.

INDCs are commitments made by specific countries that should be publicly outline climate actions they intend to take after 2020.

Submission of the commitments will culminate in creation of a new international climate agreement by the conclusion of UNFCCC Conference of Parties (Cop21) to be held in Paris in December this year.

INDCs will therefore determine whether the world will attain its low carbon climate resilient goal.

With the October deadline of INDCs approaching, the French Republic is calling upon countries to communicate their INDCs so that they are put in a synthesis report by UNFCCC secretariat to be released in November.

The Permanent Delegation of the French Republic to United Nations Educational Scientific, and Cultural Organization (Unesco)’s second Counsellor Mr Jeanne-Pierre Poncet, has called upon countries that have not submitted their INDCs to do so as soon as possible.

Mr Poncet said only 43 countries out of 196 have so far presented their INDCs and hoped that those who have not made the committed will do so soon.

“We hope that for those who have made commitments, it is not only in paper and that the key goal is to ensure their realisation,” he said.

Global warming

He said global warming is on the rise and measures are being put in place to ensure it does not go beyond two degrees.

“Global warming is accelerating and human societies bear the huge responsibility. So it takes human beings to undo and reverse the warming that has resulted in climate change. If the warming increases, the situation will not be under control,” he said.

The critical global warming will be the key point of discussion during COP21, where a protocol which will result in adaptation of an agreement outcome with legal force under the convention applicable to all parties is expected to be passed.

“Countries have specific situations regarding their economy. we call upon all countries  to present their INDCs  to specify their efforts to mitigate  and reduce  in house gas emissions,” he said while speaking to science journalists from Kenya, Madagascar and Tanzania who assembled at Unesco offices in Paris,  ahead of the ‘Our Common Future under Climate Change Conference’ which will take  place from July 7-11.

He said journalists have a critical role of explaining and describing actions taken by their countries regarding the issue since it affects all stakeholders.

“I challenge journalists to follow the issue so that all actors understand how serious the commitment issue is,” he said.

Issues to be addressed during the conference include the state and knowledge on climate change climatic variabilities and social and human dimensions of vulnerability, responding to climate change challenges collective actions and transformative solutions among others.