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Up climate crisis fight

The significance of the climate change challenge is once again grabbing global attention with African leaders taking a joint message to an international conference. This is the COP29 gathering in Azerbaijan’s capital city, Baku.

It began with the African leaders pushing for climate finance, which has remained elusive despite pledges at past conferences by the developed countries that are some of the worst polluters. The African group has called for $1.3 trillion in new climate finance.

More than 30,000 delegates from at least 200 countries will be discussing the threat posed by the climate crisis at this 29th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference. It is what is commonly known as COP29 (Conference of the Parties).

Devastating floods that killed more than 200 people and destroyed properties worth millions of shillings in Kenya last year confirmed the grave threat from climate change-related occurrences. Across the continent, 23,000 lives were lost.

African leaders are concerned about the unrelenting heat waves and tropical cyclones in countries such as Mozambique. There is an urgent need for swift and decisive actions that can effectively address and mitigate the impact of climate change on the vulnerable communities.

The COP29 provides a chance to press the wealthier nations for more financial support needed to protect the communities at risk. The situation appears to be getting out of control, with the World Meteorological Organization declaring 2024 is the warmest year ever.

Though President William Ruto is not there, Kenya is being represented by top officials including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. There is a need to seriously discuss and explore solutions to the climate crisis.

The COP29 should be used to call on, especially the rich nations, to honour their past pledges and avoid turning these conferences into mere talk shops while the climate crisis is worsening.