President William Ruto has reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to advancing bold, equitable solutions to the climate crisis as he urged global leaders to prioritise concrete action over rhetoric.
Speaking at a virtual Climate and Just Transitions summit in Beijing, Ruto stressed the need for urgent accountability in fulfilling past climate pledges.
“At this pivotal moment of geopolitical realignment, we cannot afford to treat climate action as a mere agenda item. It is time to move decisively from words to deeds,” he said.
The meeting was convened by Brazilian President Lula da Silva and UN Secretary General António Guterres.
Highlighting the upcoming COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil, Ruto noted that the conference must not only reaffirm faith in multilateralism but also deliver tangible progress on long-overdue commitments.
He cited the $100 billion annual climate finance promise to developing nations.
During the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, the central focus was on climate finance, where it was agreed that the finance to developing countries would be tripled from the previous goal of USD 100 billion annually, to USD 300 billion annually by 2035.
COP30 is slated for November 10-21.
Ruto said Kenya, being a regional leader in renewable energy adoption they will continue advocating for innovative, justice-centred strategies to combat climate change.
According to the Head of State, COP30 must be a turning point, a moment where promises translate into projects, and solidarity replaces stagnation.
Guteres stated that the meeting was an impulse for countries to commit themselves to presenting their new action plans to make temperature to rise at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
He noted that this is essential to preserve the planet and humanity.
"Last year was the hottest year of the decade, and with the present national action plans, there was a likelihood that we will get to the end of the century with an increase of 2.6 degrees Celsius, which would be catastrophic," he said.
Earlier on, Ruto held a meeting with Prime Minister Li Qiang where they agreed to accelerate trade and investment relations between Kenya and China.
"I committed to the speedy conclusion of a free trade agreement between our two countries," he said.
He also commended China for its commitment to international cooperation, embodied in the Belt and Road Initiative, which has significantly advanced infrastructure across Kenya and Africa.
The President also laid a wreath at the monument to the people's heroes at Tiananmen Square, honouring the martyrs of the struggle for the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
At the Great Hall of the People, he held talks with the National People's Congress chairman, Standing Committee chairman Zhao Leji and Prime Minister Li Qiang on a wide range of issues pertinent to the fostering of Kenya-China bilateral relations.
Their discussions centred on expanding trade between the two countries, in particular, and Africa generally, and to facilitate a win-win cooperation in infrastructure development.
Ruto expressed his gratitude for the firm commitment of the government of China to ensuring this succeeds.
The head of state also had an opportunity to engage Kenyans living in China, Beijing, where he urged them to support the transformative programmes being undertaken, especially in education, agriculture and health.
On his third day of the State Visit, Ruto is expected to hold talks with his counterpart, President Xi Jinping and later inaugurate the Kenya Tea holding centre in Fujian province.
