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By Eric Wamanji
It was Kenya’s week of glory. No. it’s not about athletics. The world’s eyes and ears were closely trained on the country as it hosted the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS). In fact, on environmental diplomacy, this was Kenya’s blockbuster. And the star of the show being President Dr. William Ruto, the summit’s architect, and host. For the president, it was a flawless spectacular show of intellectual acuity, statesmanship, diplomacy, and Public Relations all rolled in one.
At the time of depressing coup-d’états from some African countries, Kenya basked in the glory of global attention as heads of state and governments, top ticket international actors such as Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, Mr. John Kerry, Biden’s Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, trooped on Nairobi for Africa’s first well-considered show on climate.
SOFT POWER
Kenya mined real-estate soft power. Smooth diplomacy produces veneration that is great for commerce. It upgrades country of origin status and seduces investment to the country. The dividend accompanying Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) aside. The summit demonstrated that the country is endowed with the wherewithal – courage, intellect, passion, clarity of thought to provide critical leadership on the germane issues of the moment and of the future. Small wonder, quickly, the country bagged a prize – it will now host the regional headquarters of Global Centre for Adaptation’s Africa that is currently at Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Indeed, and vintage Ruto, in his element, charmed the audience with his globalist thought of the common destiny as opposed to the usual insular Afrocentric frame of lamentations and misery of an exploited lot. In fact, the president was categorical that “… we are here not to catalogue grievances and list problems. We are here to talk about solutions.” This is a major departure from the usual blame-game. For too long, the finger pointing, and the guilt trips have failed to prick the consciousness of the big polluters. Perhaps that’s why the call for something “bold” and “radical”.
In fact, to the suave president, it’s “a moment to imagine a bold and radically affirmative African future.” To the president, it cannot be business as usual. And the urgency could not be overstated. The only challenge is whether his contemporaries across the continent can feel his urgency, his redefined vision for Africa and the need to change to gain.
BEST SHOT
Still, the Nairobi Declaration is perhaps the best shot Africa has designed as a unified position on climate. Africa has taken a stand- that’s the message for the global delegates at Dubai during the 28th United Nations Climate Conference of Parties (COP 28) scheduled for November.
The ACS undoubtedly has boosted the president’s profile in the comity of nations as the undisputed Africa climate Czar. Still, it’s a tough call.
Africa argues it is a partner in the mission to redesign a new climate architecture, that’s inclusive, fair, and just. That’s why the president cut to the chase demanding an end to unjust and exploitative loans regime that saddles Africa.
Indeed, the climate business is fraught with complexities and vested interests, producing passionate binaries of denialists and progressives.
RIGGED ARCHITECTURE
Importantly, it’s the unyielding nature of the global north known to have prospered by heating the environment. The financing architecture is rigged against poor countries. It has even become a tall order to cash the $ 100 billion promissory note pledged yet the facility will expire in 2025. Further, such carrots, like Loss and Damage, agreed at COP 27 in Egypt lack clarity of who takes which responsibility. Financing Green Growth for Africa has remained a mirage. The West basically is playing Africa. To move the needle, Africa needs a courageous, energetic climate warrior.
Challenges notwithstanding, Kenya has steamed ahead with its green juggernaut. It flaunted its electricity grid that’s 93 percent renewable; charging towards Net Zero by 2030. Just on the eve of the summit, the country rolled out an e-motorbike program. And of course, the country’s legendary geothermal exploits wowed delegates.
It might be a long way before real climate funds trickle down but, even so, as ACS ends and the road to COP 28 begins, the summit was a tour de force. Great For Kenya’s brand and commerce.