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He said there is need for accountability once resources promised by wealthy nations have been released.
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Kajwang said climate related security events have in the recent past rocked the country.
Image: LEAH MUKANGAI
Experts from Africa are meeting in Nairobi to draft a common position ahead of COP29 scheduled for November.
Africa Group of Negotiators Expert Support in partnership with the Kenyan government, Africa Union Development Agency and International Livestock Research Institute convened the meeting.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang', the climate change caucus at the Senate lead, said Kenya, and by extension Africa, is ready for the coming climate talks.
“Just two years ago, we organised inaugural Africa climate summit and we took the African position. What is coming out strongly from the African position is re-engineering the global financial architecture in regard to climate finance,” he said.
Kajwang' said the West is the largest polluter and African countries have over the years been forced to set aside funds such as the green climate funds, adaptation fund, and loss and damage fund.
The senator said commitments have been made in the past but have not been followed through by actions.
“As we proceed to COP29, we intend to put more pressure on the West and polluting countries to make and deliver their commitments on funding for adaptation efforts in Africa,” he said.
COP29 will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22.
Kajwang' said there is need for accountability once resources promised by wealthy nations have been released.
He said climate-related security events have in the recent past rocked the country.
“Most of the security incidences in Africa are climate-related. You look at Kenya the northern frontier, there is always strive between communities. The strive is not political but it is climate-related,” Kajwang' said.
He said communities are always fighting for pasture and water, and the insecurity in the Sahel is partly due to the impact of climate change
The legislator said the meeting taking place in Nairobi will help share experiences from different countries.
Kajwang' said laws have been amended to allow trading in carbon credits, placing Kenya ahead of other African countries.
Secretary general of the African network of parliamentarians on climate change, who is also a Uganda MP Jacqueline Amongin, said they expect to have a clear position as the continent head to the talks.
“Harmonising the continent is key. Whereas we go as individual party members, we have to have the common position as the continent because we are most hit although we emit less than four per cent of the global emission,” the legislator said.
Amongin said resources must flow to Africa to help communities affected by climate change.
Dr George Wamukoya, the Africa Group of Negotiators Expert Support team lead, said the meeting seeks to strengthen the capacity of climate innovation that drive resilience of communities against current and future climate shocks.
“It will raise awareness among negotiators from least developed countries on the latest evidence transboundary climate change and adaptation risks and strategise for further policy inclusion,” he said.
Wamukoya said the meeting will reflect on the ongoing indicator mapping as well as review on new collective quantified goal on climate finance and development of common African position towards November climate talks.