Kenya’s Path to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction: Key Strategies and Collaboration

Kenya’s business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, which projects 143 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2-eq), outlines the country’s potential future greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions if no significant policy interventions or investments in renewable energy are made. This scenario assumes that current energy demand patterns will continue unchanged.

Under its commitment to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), Kenya reports progress biennially. At a recent workshop hosted by the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) in Nairobi from May 16–17, 2024, Michael Okumu, Deputy Director of Negotiations in the Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted Kenya’s target to reduce GHG emissions by 32% by 2040 relative to the BAU scenario. The workshop provided a platform for participants to navigate the Food Forward NDC tool and contribute feedback on improving policy implementation strategies.

The Food Forward NDC tool, developed by WWF and Climate Focus, is designed to support NDC goals by transforming agricultural and food systems. It identifies specific target areas and strategies for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable development. Organized into five intervention areas, the tool outlines policy options with concrete measurements for implementation.

The workshop brought together representatives from various organizations, including the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), Biovision Foundation, UNESCO, CGIAR, Kenya’s Council of Governors, the University of Nairobi, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Kenya’s ministries of Trade and Agriculture, the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), Water Resources Institute, and WWF. Participants were divided into five groups, each focused on one intervention pathway to analyze and provide recommendations for improvement.

The “food production” group, which included the EH&B Platform and experts in fisheries, agroecology, forestry, and sustainable agriculture, emphasized the need for Kenya to adopt nature-positive food production practices. These practices, which prioritize regenerative and agroecological methods, aim to protect soil health, minimize environmental degradation, and reduce emissions.

Looking ahead, the workshop outlined a plan to advance Kenya’s NDC process, specifying actions for various stakeholders. For CGIAR, key actions include:

• Conducting stakeholder mapping to identify participants necessary for the NDC creation and operationalization process.
• Analyzing existing Kenyan policies to ensure alignment with priority actions.
• Monitoring and tracking performance outcomes to gauge CGIAR’s contributions to NDC implementation.
• Assisting in the formation of committees to integrate priority policy options into future NDCs.
• Enhancing collaboration with WWF to support Kenya and other nations in operationalizing NDCs and integrating food, land, and water systems into the Rio Conventions on biodiversity, climate, and desertification/land degradation neutrality.

The workshop served as a collaborative platform to identify actionable steps and strengthen partnerships aimed at achieving Kenya’s climate goals while promoting sustainable development.

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