Kenya's GDP risks 2.6 decline by 2030 due to climate shocks

Environment Principal Secretary Festus Ngeno says Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could decline by 2.6 per cent by 2030 due to climate shocks.

Ngeno made the remarks in a speech at the 3rd IGAD CLIMSA high-level meeting in Nairobi, which was delivered by his colleague John Elungata.

The 2022 report from the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) revealed that over four million Kenyans were affected by drought, underscoring the severity of the crisis.

Ngeno stressed the need for a robust climate resilience strategy to anticipate and mitigate climate-related risks, ensuring the protection of livelihoods.

Kenya has implemented comprehensive climate information systems and early warning mechanisms across key sectors like agriculture, water, health, and disaster risk management.

Moreover, the deployment of automatic weather stations is improving the accuracy of climate data, facilitating informed decision-making and enhancing disaster preparedness.

These climate resilience initiatives aim to reduce disaster risks while supporting Kenya’s development goals under the Vision 2030 blueprint. 

This comes as the global community focuses on addressing climate change, implementing evidence-based mitigation measures such as adaptation, building resilience, and empowering efforts to combat climate impacts.