By Gilbert Koech in Baku, Azerbaijan
Kenya is among over 50 countries that have endorsed a U.N. declaration to make tourism more climate-friendly.
The move was endorsed at the ongoing climate summit in Azerbaijan.
Kenya's State Department for Tourism under the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife endorsed the declaration on Enhanced Action in Tourism as a call to action for tourism to contribute to the updated Nationally Determined Contributions.
This endorsement is informed by tourism in Kenya being predominantly nature-based and culture-reliant, with most visitors drawn by the country’s iconic wildlife and breath-taking landscapes.
However, climate change poses significant threats to this sector, with recurring droughts, floods, wildfires, and infrastructure destruction affecting wildlife and tourism assets like roads and eco-lodges.
Recognising these challenges, Kenya is leveraging the UN COP29 to emphasize that Climate Change and Wildlife Biodiversity Loss must be addressed in tandem
Kenya aims to protect 19.1 per cent of its landmass (111,611 km²), encompassing 46,611 km² (8%) under the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and 65,000 km² (11.1%) under community and private conservancies.
These areas provide critical natural ecosystems that act as carbon sinks, mitigating the impacts of climate change while supporting wildlife conservation.
Forested areas covering 7.4 per cent of Kenya’s 582,646 km², will be expanded through the 15 billion trees by 2032 initiative to enhance ecosystem restoration.
Tourism initiatives like One Tourist, One Tree will engage millions of visitors annually in reforestation efforts, linking tourism directly to climate resilience and carbon offsetting.
Green certification programs for eco-lodges and tour operators will ensure sustainable, low-impact tourism practices, while protected ecosystems will continue to safeguard biodiversity.
By addressing biodiversity loss and climate change together, Kenya will protect its unique natural heritage while promoting sustainable tourism models that benefit local communities.
These efforts position Kenya as a global leader in leveraging tourism as a tool for conservation and climate action.
The sector accounts for 10.4 per cent of the country's GDP, 5.5 per cent of Kenya's formal employment.
Parties to the endorsement recognized that tourism presents a unique opportunity to advance climate action, particularly in countries where it is a significant source of employment and revenue.
They stressed the importance of fostering dialogue, cooperation, experience and knowledge sharing among countries and within the different stakeholders of the sector to advance climate action in the tourism sector.
“We acknowledge the significant vulnerability of the tourism sector to climate change, highlighting the importance of enhancing the sector's effectiveness in climate action to help ensure its sustainable growth and resilience,” part of the endorsement pact says.
The endorsement pact says the parties recognise the need for further addressing and considering, as appropriate, the tourism sector in the design of national climate policy documents, such as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), national adaptation plans (NAPs), technology action plans (TAPs) and long-term low-emission development strategies (LT-LEDS).
“We intend, where applicable and appropriate to consider effective mitigation measures such as embracing sustainable practices, adopting innovative technologies, using clean energy, enhancing energy efficiency and waste management in tourism facilities, sustaining the conservation and health of ecosystems that serve as carbon sinks, promoting low- and zero-emission transportation options, fostering circular approaches that promote sustainable production and consumption, efficient resource use and minimising the risk of pollution
