Counties recieve Sh7.2 billion climate change investment grants

By Peter Ochieng 

President William Ruto on Monday handed over Sh 7.2 billion to counties, under the Financing Locally-LED Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme.

The funds were submitted in the form of county climate change investment grants.

The programme seeks to enhance Kenya’s climate adoption through financing, technology and capacity building.

“The grants, together with Sh3 billion of county own-resource allocations, will finance local climate action priorities in agriculture, water and natural resources management in every county," said the Head of State.

Earlier, speaking during the ministerial conference of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS) at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Ruto urged African governments to increase their investments in green opportunities to unlock the continent’s potential.

He called for investment in renewable energy, green industrialization, climate-smart agriculture, and nature conservation, which he added would accelerate global decarbonization, fuel sustainable development, drive economic growth and create millions of jobs.

“We must see in green growth not just a climate imperative, but also a fountain of multi-billion-dollar economic opportunities that Africa and the World is primed to capitalise on."

Ruto challenged African states to invest in value addition of raw materials and abandon the minimalist, short-term, raw-material-based approach.

“The time has come for us to break out of the shackles of low ambition. We must now begin to aim higher and strive for more, and better outcomes,” he said.

African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, and Pan African Climate Justice Alliance Executive Director, Dr. Mithika Mwenda were among those present.

Sacko said Africa is committed to addressing the climate change challenge by implementing sustainable solutions. “Our solution for African climate change is rooted in large-scale investment in climate resilience centred on energy assets to drive sustainable industrialization,” she added.