Nairobi summit sets the stage for historic plastic pollution treaty amid geopolitical dynamics

In a critical milestone toward addressing the global plastic pollution crisis, international delegates recently convened in Nairobi, Kenya, to advance discussions on a landmark treaty to fight global plastic pollution. The urgency of this mission was underscored by Kenyan President William Ruto on the first

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: An Overview of Carbon Trading in Kenya

Carbon trading, or emissions trading, is a market-based mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is a tool governments and businesses use to limit their carbon footprint, which is the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Carbon trading works

Sustainability reporting is a better option for businesses instead of greenwashing

Greenwashing is a term used to describe a company’s practice of making misleading or false claims about the environmental benefits of its products, services, or operations. Greenwashing is often used to give a company a “green” image, and it is often used to deflect criticism

Fighting destruction of the environment through peacemaking efforts and environmental management

Peace and environmental management are linked in many ways. In the modern world, environmental degradation has become an increasingly important issue for peace and security. As the global climate changes, natural resources become scarcer, and competition increases, conflicts can arise particularly between states or other

Chasing Zero: Achieving net-zero by 2050 calls for great sacrifices by all stakeholders

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a call to action, stating that global CO2 emissions must reach net-zero by approximately 2050 in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and prevent the most severe consequences of climate change. Achieving this

Fresh move to compel landlords to install solar water heating systems

If new regulations aimed at encouraging the adoption of renewable energies are approved, owners of all new and existing buildings risk spending six months in jail or paying a fine of Sh20,000 if they fail to incorporate designs for installation of solar water heaters.  

Tips on how to celebrate this festive season sustainably

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year that brings family and friends together to celebrate. Yet, with all the gifts, decorations and feasting, it can also be an expensive and wasteful holiday. Fortunately, there are many ways to celebrate the holiday season more sustainably. 

Climate conference takeaways: Key outcomes from COP27 and the next steps as we head to COP28

Discussions over establishing a “new collective quantifiable target on climate finance” for 2024, taking into account the requirements and interests of poor nations, took place during COP27. The conversations focused on ways to overcome climate problems and how to give the funding, resources, and instruments

Beyond donations during drought: Let’s adopt a climate action plan

The ASAL region of Kenya continues to suffer from a severe drought (2020 – 2022) that has been termed as the most severe and longest in forty years. Its widespread impacts on livelihoods are grinding harsh as over 4.35 million Kenyans across 23 counties are

COP 27: Achievement, gaps and what can be done to prevent a climate crisis

A report by CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo has raised mixed reactions on the internet after he shared the state of floods in Lagos, the capital of Nigeria. While most term it as intentional exposure of the state of African nations when it comes to

Understanding International Climate Change Regimes

Climate change legislation, often shortened to climate legislation, consists of laws and policies that govern action on climate change by setting its legal basis. The term is used broadly and can include acts, decrees and policies that are passed or promulgated by both legislative and

Ways to weave gender mainstreaming in your climate action policies and programmes and the reasons

Does climate change affect everyone equally? Most definitely, no. The severity of the effects of climate change depend on factors such as geographical location, gender, social class, governance styles, disabilities, etc. Think about it for a minute, flooding as a result of climate change would

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Contribution to Sustainable Development

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement was approved in December 2015 and went into effect in November 2016. This agreement is the result of discussions that were started in 2011 at the 17th Conference of Parties in Durban with the

Kenya needs a green taxonomy to enhance environmental sustainability

A green taxonomy is an official classification or catalogue that defines a minimum set of assets, projects and sectors that are eligible to be defined as “green” or environmentally friendly. Green taxonomy supports emerging national policy and voluntary private sector initiatives by augmenting sustainable finance

Sustainability: Tips for living a more sustainable life

What is sustainable living? Sustainable living means understanding how our lifestyle choices impact the world around us and finding ways for everyone to live better and lighter. It is often called “earth harmony living” or “net zero living.” Applying a ‘people lens’ to sustainability is

Key principles towards achieving sustainable development

Development that meets current demands without jeopardising the ability of subsequent generations, ensuring the harmony between economic progress and care for the health of society and the environment, is known as Sustainable Development. Principles of Sustainable Development: Principle of holistic approach – Implies an integrated

Avocado and Sustainability: We produce our fruit better than many other global market players

By Chris Flowers  The avocado fruit has, over the last decade and more, swept the world’s imagination and attention to iconic superfood levels. Like never before, the world has embraced avocado consumption, significantly increasing new plantings. However, environmental challenges lie as some of these new

Achieving the Green Transition in the energy sector

On 5th June 2022, individuals, communities, civil societies, businesses and governments worldwide came together to mark World Environment Day under the theme #OnlyOneEarth. Stockholm held official celebrations where the host country Sweden announced a ban on issuing new licenses to extract coal, oil, and natural

Redefining manufacturing for a sustainable economy

Manufacturing is a critical sector in Kenya’s economic development in its contribution to both the national output and exports, as well as job creation.  Over the past decades, the sector has contributed heavily to diversifying Kenya’s economy. However, the pandemic in 2020 had a significant

Climate Justice: Impact on key groups and what businesses can do to alleviate climate crisis

What is climate justice? “Climate justice” is a term that acknowledges climate change can have differing social, economic, public health, and other adverse impacts on underprivileged populations. This concept has emerged from the idea that historical responsibility for climate change lies with wealthy and powerful

Pillars of Focus to Entrench Sustainable Living

Pillars of Focus to Entrench Sustainable Living Sustainability is the ability to continue a defined behaviour indefinitely in order to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. According to the International Union for Conservation

UNGC launch of Africa strategy on corporate sustainability expected to scale responsible business practices

The UNGC, which is a non-binding United Nations pact, encourages businesses and firms worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on their implementation. Under the Global Compact, companies are brought together with UN agencies, labour groups and civil society. UNGC being

GFANZ: Change Climate Finance to Fund Climate Action

The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) has its sights set on becoming the biggest financial catalyst for climate ambition and action. The Alliance has only three financial institutions from Africa, a continent that has 7 of the 10 emerging markets in the world.

Kenyan Parliament is mulling over proposed law changes seeking to reduce protection of forests

The Kenyan Parliament is currently reviewing an amendment proposal to the Forest Conservation and Management Act which gives the Kenya Forestry Services (KFS)  authority over boundaries and excisions in state forests. The Forest Conservation and Management Amendment Bill 2021 seeks to repeal Section 34 of

Business case for a UN treaty on plastic pollution

For the first time in history, more than 70 leading corporations and financial institutions have called for a legally binding UN treaty on plastic pollution. The aim of this move is to have a robust policy on plastic pollution and reduction in virgin plastic production

Environmental stakeholders express opposition to controversial Forest Bill

Kenya’s post-independence environmental history has been plagued with arbitrary excisions of public forests resulting in endangered water catchment areas and threats to biodiversity conservation.  Kenya has sought to ensure the sustainable development and management of her forest resources via the enactment of the Forest Act,

World Wetlands Day: Call for action to protect wet habitats for a sustainable future

Widespread loss of marshes, swamps, riverbanks and other wetlands, driven mainly by encroachment through agriculture and urbanization, has led to significant loss of biodiversity. Freshwater ecosystems have undergone the most catastrophic decline in recent years of all the major habitat types on the earth. Hundreds

E-waste: The raring dragon that should be slain for a sustainable environment

The world is coming to a more crushing realization of the disastrous strain we’re putting on the place we call home, Earth! What we believe to be ground breaking transitions into new, adaptive and better ways of living through electronics, is actually having an adverse

After CoP 26, What Next for Businesses

CoP 26 came to a close on 13th November 2021 after a one-day extension to ensure consensus was reached for the final outcome document. The Final CoP26 Glasgow Pact does not mention any word on the business although private companies and businesses contribute 70% of

Kenya’s path to becoming a Green Economy: How this can be achieved?

BY: Aarti Krishnan The seventh annual Devolution Conference under the theme: Multi-level governance for climate action, has just ended in the beautiful county of Makueni. Delegates at the conference, including public and private sector players, were all out engaging on climate change and exploring the

President Kenyatta reiterates Kenya’s Commitment to Climate Action

The 7th Annual Devolution Conference focused on climate change, specifically the Multi-Level Governance for Climate Action. The aim of the multi-governance approach is to strengthen sub-national governments to act on climate change through development of more robust and focused execution of mitigation and adaptation strategies.

KEPSA and Stakeholder hold Consultative Forum on National REDD+ Strategy and Investment Plan

The private sector alliance (KEPSA) collaborated with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and UNDP in the organisation of the REDD+ strategy consultation forum that took place at Nyali Sun Africa Beach Resort, Mombasa, on Tuesday, October 19, 2021.  The regional consultation forums were organised

A Call to Action-Net Zero Strategy

There has been a rise in the demand for transition to a zero carbon economy. While government action and global protests are a step in the right direction, they cannot achieve net zero on their own. Companies also need to step into this court. This

Reconceiving the Plastic Bag Ban

Plastic waste has been causing immeasurable damage to the ecosystem- an ecosystem that is all too fragile and vital to the preservation of life on the land and sea affecting the environment, wildlife and human health. It is to this accord that the Ministry of

Wetlands, not wastelands

EABL has
announced a
5 year plan
towards the
development
of water and
sanitation
projects in the
Lake basin areas.
It has put forth
an investment of
Ksh20M for this
purpose.

The Davos Agenda

The Davos Agenda 2021, saw about 1500 global leaders come together under the theme of “A crucial year to rebuild trust” to discuss issues such as COVID-19 vaccination, job creation, climate change and technology among others. The annual event that is normally held at Swiss

Biden’s climate change agenda for Kenya

In a tele-conversation between United States President-elect Joe Biden and President Uhuru Kenyatta, Biden conveyed his interest in building on the strong and lasting partnership between his country and Kenya across a variety of issues affecting both countries. Among the host of areas of partnership

Ministerial stakeholder forum with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry

There is no denying that natural forests are important watersheds, habitats for wildlife, reservoir of biological diversity, carbon sequestration and regional climatic amelioration.
As such conservation, restoration and continued protection of these forests will ensure the sustainable provision of these ecological services.