Kenya, UK deal boosts climate change response

President William Ruto and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer after signing the Kenya-UK Strategic Partnership pact at the 10 Downing Street in London. [PHOTO EDWARD ALUSA/PCS. 1/6/2025] Kenya and the United Kingdom have launched energy projects that will advance the country's climate ambitions. This significant delivery comes after President William Ruto and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a strategic partnership that has climate and nature as a core pillar, alongside trade, investment and green growth, science and technology, and security and stability. This core pillar is set to deliver ambitious action on clean energy and forestry, and increase climate and disaster resilience. Clean cooking will support local manufacturing and accelerate the adoption of clean cooking technologies, while Integrated Energy Planning will ensure that local community needs and insights are reflected in national energy strategies. The off-grid solutions will empower young people through access to power and support innovative, tech-driven energy solutions - all part of the UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) programme. Speaking at the launch, Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira said: "Our partnership with the UK on clean energy transition will play a key role in driving our focus on clean energy entrepreneurship. We remain committed towards delivery of universal access to electricity by 2030 and the acceleration of urban and rural electrification through innovative off-grid technologies." He added: "The Ministry of Energy appreciates the support extended by the UK Government, and looks forward to the commencement and eventual implementation of the new project intervention areas being announced today." Shared vision The PS said these energy projects are a testament to this shared vision, making a major contribution to Kenya's strategic development goals and its ambitious climate commitments. "These include our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 per cent by 2035. ''The promotion of clean cooking solutions, the expansion of renewable energy and the enhancement of energy efficiency are all crucial to our national efforts to spur socio-economic development, while also mitigating the effects of climate change," he said. Kenya recently submitted its NDC goals to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, beating the 30 April deadline. British Deputy High Commissioner Ed Barnett said the two countries have this collaboration on clean energy transition with Makueni County, where the referral hospital now generates over 288 MWh of clean energy annually. He said the two have started this collaboration on clean energy transition with Makueni County, where the referral hospital now generates over 288 MWh of clean energy annually. This, Dr Barnet said, is meeting a third of its power needs, cutting electricity costs by Sh7 million and ensuring uninterrupted power for critical health services. On nature-based solutions, he said UK PACT is helping restore degraded landscapes and strengthen forest governance at community level. More than 400 Community Forest Association (CFA) members have been trained in forest management, benefit sharing and institutional governance. The programme has supported the development of commercial forestry investment plans and piloted Kenya's first Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) registry system, which will integrate into the national carbon registry. These efforts are laying the foundation for long term climate resilience and contributing directly to Kenya's target of reducing emissions by 32 percent by 2030. Beyond emissions, these projects deliver jobs, improve livelihoods, and build more inclusive and resilient communities

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Kenya, UK deal boosts climate change response

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