Office of Kenya's Special Envoy for Climate

It was an honor to host France Ambassador to Kenya Balozi Arnaud Suquet and his team for discussions about the upcoming Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, set to take place in France in February 2025. As active participants in the Public Interest AI Workstream, we are excited about Kenya's vital role in shaping a future for AI that is safe, secure, inclusive, trustworthy, and impactful for all. We look forward to a strong African and Kenyan participation in the Summit! I was pleased to be joined by my colleague, Office of Kenya's Special Envoy for Climate, Ali Mohamed, as we emphasized the importance of an approach that prioritizes innovation while ensuring that AI is sustainable as it addresses some of humanity's most significant challenges. Korir SingOei Emmanuel Macron Martin Tisné

Journalists and editors are society's eyes and ears, you bring discussions on issues many people are not able to understand," noted Amb. Ali at the Kenya Editors' Guild (KEG) climate finance meeting. His keynote challenged newsrooms to transform climate coverage: We need reporters who can scrutinize climate finance, track adaptation funds, and expose greenwashing. ➡️ KEG's new Climate Change Training Manual equips journalists deliver the coverage this crisis demands. Download it here: https://bit.ly/3DkpOU3

➡️ #ResearchGrant: African researchers focused on adaptation on the continent: Apply for the Accountable Adaptation Fellowship to receive mini-grants (up to £4,500), mentorship, & publication support from the Africa Research and Impact Network. (ARIN) and UCL. More info and how to apply: : http://bit.ly/496lP9a by Closing: 1 Jan 2025

The 12-day meeting of parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), known as COP16, has ended in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh without an agreement on responding to drought. African countries had hoped the talks would produce a binding protocol on drought that would ensure “every government will be held responsible” for devising stronger preparation and response plans. An African COP16 delegate said, “It’s the first time I’ve seen Africa so united, with a strong united front, with respect to the drought protocol.” A future global drought regime is now planned to be completed at COP17 in Mongolia in 2026.

Great pleasure to meet with African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat Secretary General Wamkele Mene, as a follow up to the very successful AGII Sherpas meeting in Baku where a plan of action was discussed and agreed. In 2025, the African Green Industrialization Initiative (AGII) will focus on identifying and developing green industrial clusters, investment mobilisation and policy alignment to support implementation.

Happy #JamhuriDay to all Kenyans!

Had a productive exchange with Toks Omishakin, Secretary of State for the California State Transportation Agency and team, who are on a visit to Kenya to explore opportunities for collaboration. The meeting discussed climate related investment opportunities in Kenya and Africa including in EVs, batteries, green hydrogen, smart agriculture, and disaster response. The secretary was accompanied by officials for University of California, Davis which hosts the critical minerals Council and where we discussed possibilities of establishing an African Institute for Climate. Kenya's climate leadership in Africa coupled with California's technical expertise creates a strong foundation for knowledge exchange and implementation of ambitious climate initiatives.

The record $100bn replenishment of The World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) fund - the single-largest source of low-cost financing for low-income countries - falls short of the $120bn called for by African Leaders in May, but is still a welcome development. We expect the funds to leverage much higher levels and be available to support climate actions of the most vulnerable. - Amb. Ali Mohamed African heads of state are pushing common IDA funding priorities centred on job creation, expansion of energy and digital access, and climate resilience. More: https://lnkd.in/dJiBnkDj

Kenya's Supreme Court has awarded Sh1.3 billion ($8.5 million USD) to victims of lead pollution from an industrial facility in Mombasa. Kenya's judiciary like in other jurisdictions, is enforcing constitutional rights to a clean and healthy environment. The ruling, which addresses harm to 3,000 victims including 20 deaths, sets an important precedent for industrial pollution cases across East Africa: https://lnkd.in/dP8zYVkD

The devastating floods in Nyanza, Nairobi, and Western Kenya show exactly why the Loss and Damage Fund cannot become another slow, bureaucratic mechanism. With thousands displaced and critical infrastructure destroyed, these floods are affecting communities still recovering from Kenya's worst flooding in 30 years this past May. As the Fund's Board meets in Manila, the newly appointed Executive Director must ensure rapid response to disasters, not the typical pace of development finance. We expect concrete plans for swift deployment, especially to countries like Kenya that face escalating climate impacts despite minimal emissions contributions. Developed nations and capable developing countries must step up—your enhanced contributions are urgently needed. These aren't "natural" disasters—they're the front lines of climate change, demanding immediate financial support that matches the intensity and frequency of these crises. Photo: Kenya Red Cross Loss and Damage Collaboration