13 African Heads to attend Climate Summit in Nairobi

German Ambassador to Kenya Sebastian Groth, Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya and PS Festus Ng'eno during the launch of Africa Climate Summit 2023 Website,on July 17, 2023 at 316 Upper Hill chambers in Nairobi. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

At least 13 African Heads of State have confirmed they will attend the Africa Climate Summit that will start September 4, in Nairobi.

''Among the confirmed delegates include a total of 12 Heads of State and Government from Africa as well as the United Nations Secretary General Mr Antonio Guterress,'' said Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya.

As of Thursday morning, she said more than 12,500 delegates from across the world had been accredited to attend the Summit and the Africa Climate Week that will be happening concurrently.

''Based on the current trend, we expect to exceed 15,000 delegates for both events and we have no worry in terms of over registration because the venue can hold up to 20,000 delegates,'' she said.

The CS was speaking on Thursday during a press briefing on preparations to host the climate summit after touring the renovations work at KICC.

Tuya said they are also expecting many other high-level dignitaries and heads of international organisations and financial institutions, in addition to representatives from the academia, researchers, civil society, women and youth from across the world.

Renovations for the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC), which will host the event are also almost complete.

Major General Bernard Waliaula said the ongoing renovation exercise of KICC, being supervised by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), begun on July 25, 2023.

The facility will be handed over to the Ministry on August 20, 2023.

''The renovation is at a completion rate of between 85 to 90 per cent with a round the clock work schedule including weekends and nights and by Monday next week, we will be done with most of the work and start cleaning,'' he said.

CS Tuya said preparations to host the climate summit are in high gear, and the interest by different stakeholder groups has met and exceeded their expectations.

''We received more than 550 applications for side events from across the world. We have so far shortlisted 200 of these applications, and we are in the process of scheduling them in the summit agenda,'' said CS Tuya.

She said they have also formally issued a call on applications for exhibitors on the Africa Climate Summit website and vetting and confirmation of applicants will commence soon, then selected exhibitors will be announced.

The Africa Climate Summit, she said is Africa's moment to turn the tide on all the calamities highlighted above.

''It is Africa's moment to turn the tide and take leadership to drive the world towards decarbonisation on a green growth pathway to realise a world of net-zero,'' she said.

To achieve this, she said the summit has been organised around five key thematic areas namely; energy transition, green minerals and manufacturing, sustainable agriculture and land use, sustainable infrastructure, and finally natural capital.

The summit is expected to come up with The Nairobi Declaration that will among others propose a relook into the international financial institutions financing of climate so that it is reengineered to respond to debt distress situation facing many African countries that will give them some space to focus on development and climate actions.