On climate change, current and historical emitters must act responsibly

Residents of Oloirien village in search for water. [Sandra Ruong'o, Standard]

People in the global south are aware that they are living in a climate-changed world as the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) concludes in Cairo, Egypt. There has been an increase in the severity and frequency of droughts in Eastern Africa since 1999. Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia are currently experiencing famine. Among the most vulnerable countries to climate change is Kenya.

Since the industrial revolution in the 1800s, human activities have been the main cause of climate change. China, the European Union, and the United States contribute 41.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In contrast, only 3.6 per cent of global GHG emissions come from the bottom 100 countries. Over two-thirds of global GHG emissions are accounted for by the top 10 emitters. Besides reducing their current emissions, what can high-income countries do to make reparations for the harm their emissions have caused, both historically and currently?