Fight on climate change gets Sh2b

The World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have pledged $22.5 million (Sh2.25 billion) to tackle climate change in Africa over the next five years.

The funding announced at last week’s United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) summit in Nairobi, is expected to help African countries, including Kenya, slow down the negative effects of climate change and pollution.

The bulk of the funds will be used for wildlife conservation, the war against poaching, environmental protection, forests’ conservations as well as climate change adaptations and mitigation campaigns in Africa and Kenya.

While it was not immediately clear how much Kenyan would get, about Sh20 million is earmarked for rehabilitation of Mount Kenya, which is facing serious environmental and ecological challenges.

“We have increased funding for Africa because it is the hardest hit by the effects of climate change,” said World Bank Group President Kristalina Georgieva.

The funding is part of the bank’s 2025 project under the banner Target to Step Up Climate Change Action.

The initiative was started a year ago in Poland with the aim of encouraging African countries to invest in new opportunities.

AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina said some part of the funding to Kenya would also go towards the rehabilitation of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).

UN Environment Acting Director Joyce Msuya said it is time for action and not empty rhetoric.

“The commitment to implement all resolutions and honour pledges is now and must be real and urgent as this will save humanity from the awaiting disaster,” said Ms Msuya.

Earlier this year, the World Bank said it had set aside $50 billion (Sh5 trillion) to tackle challenges posed by climate change around the world over the next five years.

The financing level, an average of Sh1 trillion ($10 billion) a year, is more than double what the global lender allocated during financial years 2015-18.