After Paris, let’s now plan our climate action

The full significance of the just-concluded Paris climate talks is still sinking in. But it is already evident that as a nation, there are lots of lessons and benefits to be derived from the historic climate talks. The talks remind us that ‘whoever fails to plan is planning to fail.’

The talks brought together various global leaders including our own President Uhuru Kenyatta.

They set the ball rolling then left their Environment ministers and official negotiators to iron out differences and craft a climate agreement that would ensure low carbon economic growth and eventual but drastic reduction of Greenhouse gases, among other related goals.

All this boils down to planning, largely for a future that none of the negotiators will be around to see. If the world can get together to plan for the next century, how much more should Kenyans come together to plan for the subsequent decades? Tangible and innovative planning that is not a boardroom affair agreement of the elite.

There were more civil society activists in Paris than official negotiators. It is they who had placed immense pressure on their governments in preceding years.

Because of them, a country like US, which had been an impediment in previous climate summits, was a major proponent of a deal this time. Indeed, the momentum generated prior to Paris was a direct result of civil society action.

Similarly, the planning that Africa needs should entail grassroots input that is engaging, not confrontational.

Kenya’s Vision 2030 is an admirable blueprint and just like an architectural blueprint, only a select few can truly interrogate and interpret it. It needs a passionate input of Kenyans as far as implementing it is concerned.

It’s not enough to have a vision of going to Mombasa for vacation this Christmas season. You must book a hotel, buy a ticket and board the bus.

What is the game plan for tripling decent jobs for our young people, doubling our forest cover, modernising our fishing, bolstering our agriculture, expanding our export portfolio, making cars in Kenya, tarmacking all roads, entrenching decent low cost housing in our cities and other such practical deliverables that know no party or election cycle? Indeed, the Paris climate talks have reminded us that collective planning is the road that leads to solid progress that you can touch and feel.

Our counties need to regularly hold annual or biennial talks that transcend politics. Whatever the timeframe, the critical thing is to bring on board the creativity and talents of Kenyans in ushering their nation forth even as they demand action from their leaders.

Think green, act green!