Ruto, AU noble climate plan bound to fail

President William Ruto during the Annual Kaptagat Forest tree planting at Our Lady of Glory Kaptagat Girls High School in Elgeyo Marakwet county. [File, Standard]

Climate change is one of President William Ruto’s pet subjects. In September last year, he made headlines by driving himself in an electric car to a climate summit in Nairobi.

At the African Parliamentarians’ Summit on Climate Policy and Equity in South Africa in May 2023, he was emphatic that Kenya and other nations have vast clean energy potential.

The president believes, and rightly so, that Africa can eliminate 300 million tonnes of C02 yearly using nature-based solutions. What’s required, in his view, is a win-win relationship between Africa and the world in this adaptation and mitigation phase.

However, for such a relationship to work, there’s a ‘mambo matatu’ twist to it. It must involve three pillars – technology transfer, feasible policies and leadership that will enable Africa leapfrog into a green economy. But Ruto worries more over the lack of goodwill, a patronising attitude towards Africa by the ‘big boys’ and overreliance on fickle supply chains.

Last week, the president, alongside many key decision-makers in Africa, poured their hearts out in support of what has now come to be called the Draft Common African Position on Climate Change, Peace and Security, ostensibly to bridge policy gaps and deliver climate finance.

The draft was discussed by African Union member states in Nairobi for three days from August 27 in an attempt to enrich it. Presenting the president’s position, Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said development of a ‘common position’ will enhance awareness and collaboration ahead of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Quite sound and timely idea from our leadership and AU but whose implementation won’t be smooth. While the vision of a united front is worthy, it bears many underlying issues that complicate the aspiration. Suffice to ask: If we can’t agree on nearly everything else as a continent, will we agree on an African climate agenda?  

The danger lies in historical and structural divides that have long plagued us. Africa has struggled to agree on common markets and a monetary union. The vision of a ‘United States of Africa’ is still hampered by deep political and cultural divides.

The longstanding rifts between Anglophone and Francophone countries further complicate the equation. We are yet to agree on how to fight graft and deal with botched elections. The continent is unable to address deaths of immigrants at sea trying to seek better opportunities in Europe. There’re also xenophobic attacks faced by African migrants within Africa.

Also, social and economic disparities have lived to jolt the foundation needed for a cohesive united stand on global issues like climate change. Observers will tell you that a unified strategy risks being too broad and ineffective. It won’t address specific climate, economic, political and cultural realities of countries. Instead, an approach combining regional cooperation with locally adapted policies would boost Africa’s climate action. While blocs like the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) are crucial, policies must be adaptive. Each country should design and implement strategies effective for their unique situations. Also, a common continental approach might fail to respect and incorporate communities’ cultural aspects, leading to resistance and ultimately, the failure of climate initiatives.

We aren’t sure if the Ilchamus and Sengwer in Kenya have same interests as South Africa’s Zulus or Zimbabwe’s Shona. Traditional practices and local knowledge systems are deeply rooted in Africa.

Overall, we must first overcome internal divisions to present a united front on the global stage. Only then can Africa leverage its potential in fighting global warming.  

For the record, this effort must go beyond eyeing climate finance to also focus on putting the continent’s house in order.

There’s greed and unhelpful bickering. It should worry us all when bigtime financiers keep off Africa due to record high graft levels in our continent.  

-The writer is a communications practitioner. X:@markoloo