President Ruto Shapes Africa's Agenda Week After Swearing In

President William Ruto (second left) attends the  United Nations Development Programme’s inaugural Africa Investment Partnership Forum, New York, on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
President William Ruto (second left) attends the United Nations Development Programme’s inaugural Africa Investment Partnership Forum, New York, on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
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With just a week in office, President William Ruto is destined to make a mark on Africa's fight against the ever-changing climate situation.

In his opening speech during the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) in New York on Wednesday, September 21, the Head of State reiterated that Africa should be an investment-friendly hub instead of its widely perception as aid-dependent.

He argued that Africa is impacted by the climate crisis the most yet it contributes the list emissions into the atmosphere.

"The recently released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report confirmed that Africa is impacted more than other regions by climate change; despite our contribution of less than 4 per cent of total emissions. This report further places Africa’s adaptation annual needs at Ksh10.4 trillion (US Dollars 86.5 billion) by 2030.

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President William Ruto and Ababu Namwamba at the 77th UN General Assembly on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.

"Conversely, African countries are contributing more than their fair share for adaptation efforts, currently estimated at 10% of GDP annually. \It is my hope that we will, at CoP27, call for enhanced adaptation efforts, fulfilment and implementation of pledges," he explained.

He further noted that African countries were at the forefront of the 200 nations that made an unprecedented and historic pledge to phase down fossil fuel subsidies.

He, however, maintained that for the feat to be actualised, the continent will need financial aid and technical support for a just transition to low carbon, clean technologies to drive industrial and productive sectors.

"Building resilience to address the multiple crises and risks, while ensuring the impact of climate change on Africa remain high on the global political agenda, and must remain a priority for CAHOSCC.

"The world is at a critical juncture, experiencing multiple crises simultaneously that pose an existential threat to people, planetary ecosystems, and shared prosperity," he added.

Ruto made the remarks as the chairman of CAHOSCC, a role he took over from his predecessor former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In November 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta praised Kenya's efforts in hitting net zero by adopting clean energy projects that have kept the country ahead of its peers at the Climate Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

He explained that Kenya was on course to convert all its energy sources into clean energy by 2050.

Some of the projects include the construction of a wind power project, Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP), the largest of its kind in Sub-saharan Africa, as well as the expanding access to electricity from 30 per cent to 75 per cent.

President Uhuru Kenyatta poses for a photo with World Leaders in Glasgow, Scotland on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.
President Uhuru Kenyatta poses for a photo with World Leaders in Glasgow, Scotland on Tuesday, November 2, 2021.
PSCU

In New York, Ruto also held a discussion with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The two leaders deliberated on regional cooperation, security in the Horn of Africa, Kenya’s membership of the United Nations Security Council, climate change and the humanitarian crisis in the region.

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