Kenya advocates for drought protocol at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

By Robert Mutasi

Aden Duale, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Forestry and Climate Change of Kenya, led the country's delegation to the 16th Conference of Parties- COP16 to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The "Our Land. Our Future" themed global summit brought together leaders in efforts to address the twin pressing challenges of land degradation and climate change.

Duale emphasized Kenya's commitment to combat desertification and climate impacts, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.

"Kenya is championing the adoption of a comprehensive drought protocol to address the increasing impacts of climate change on livelihoods," he said.

It aims at giving a well-structured response to the rise in the frequency and intensity of droughts, especially affecting the communities that are the most vulnerable.

The Kenyan delegation emphasized strategies in combating land degradation and enhancing resilience at all levels.

This aligns with the call of the summit for collective global action to protect and restore land as a critical resource for sustainable development.

The Riyadh summit is Saudi Arabia's first presidency of the COP after the country of Côte d'Ivoire led at COP15.

For its part, Saudi Arabia, as host, emphasized the importance of international collaboration to secure a sustainable future for the planet.

Duale was accompanied by senior Kenyan officials, including Ambassador Mohamed Ramadhan Ruwange, Kenya's envoy to Saudi Arabia; Linda Kosgei, Head of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs); Dr. Charles Lange of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA); and Dr. Clement Ngoriareng’ from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).

The forum was a chance for Kenya to highlight the ongoing initiatives it is undertaking in afforestation programs, community-based land restoration, and innovation to reduce the impacts of climate change.

The Kenyan delegation also engaged in discussions on resource mobilization and partnerships to implement sustainable solutions for desertification and climate adaptation.

COP16 underscored the call for global unity in addressing desertification, with leaders emphasizing that land protection goes hand in glove with taming climate change, ensuring food security, and sustaining livelihoods.

The proactive stance taken by Kenya at the summit only serves to reinforce its leading role in environmental conservation and building resilience against the vagaries of climate change.