Raila Odinga to address COP27 in Egypt

African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa, Raila Odinga. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga left the country for Egypt to attend the United Nations Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP27).

Raila has been invited to address the meeting at Sharm El-Sheikh attended by almost 200 government delegations from across the globe in his capacity as the African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa.

In a statement issued by ODM party Director of Communication Philip Etale, the Azimio leader will address the global event attended by several Heads of State and government including President William Ruto who arrived in Egypt on Sunday.

"Raila is expected to make a presentation on the impact of climate change on infrastructure development in Africa and why there is a need for strengthening adaptation and resilience, mitigating emissions, facilitating a just transition, and increasing funding and collaboration for essential climate solutions," said Etale.

The summit comes in the wake of last month's publishing of the Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032) by the African Union, which is a 10-year strategic planning document to address the impacts of climate change that hamper the continent's integration and development.

The former Prime Minister has been active in the campaign for the conservation of the environment with the preservation of Mau water tower in Kenya being a case in point which cost him presidential votes in the Rift Valley in 2013 General Election.

Raila is on record saying that he would rather lose an election and go and sell mandazi in Kibra instead of seating and watching as some people plundered the environment which he said will be a disaster in future if nothing is done to stop the destruction.

"We must conserve our environment since if we fail to do that our children and grandchildren are going to blame us for failing to protect the environment at a time when it might be too late to rectify some of the wanton environmental destruction activities allowed in the past," he said.

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