Kenya is stepping confidently onto the global climate stage with a bold, investment-driven strategy aimed at transforming its economy while tackling the escalating climate crisis. In its newly submitted Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UN climate body, the government outlines an ambitious framework to reduce emissions and boost resilience from 2031 to 2035.
Rather than treating climate action as a burden, Kenya is presenting it as a launchpad for sustainable growth. The plan outlines a 35% cut in projected emissions equivalent to avoiding 75.25 million tons of carbon dioxide through a combination of adaptation and low-carbon initiatives.
This marks a pivotal shift in Africa’s climate narrative: Kenya is not just responding to environmental threats, but actively designing a climate-smart economy.
To make the plan a reality, the country is targeting $56 billion in funding over five years. A substantial $10.5 billion will be sourced locally reflecting the government’s commitment to financing its own transition. The remaining majority is expected to come through international cooperation in the form of green finance, technology partnerships, skills transfer, and carbon trading.
Environment Minister Dr. Deborah M. Barasa described the plan as a national roadmap to long-term prosperity in a changing climate. “We’re building a foundation where economic progress and environmental security move together,” she said.
Kenya submitted its updated strategy by the UN deadline of April 30, 2025, reinforcing its status as one of the few African nations with a long-term, costed decarbonization plan. With the groundwork now laid, the next phase will involve turning climate commitments into bankable projects and scalable solutions.
