As part of the preparations for COP28, the visit to Kenya by the European Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra, on 6 and 7 November (see EUROPE 13286/11), underlined the country’s crucial role as a strategic African partner in the collective effort to ensure the success of the conference.
Speaking at the University of Nairobi on Tuesday 7 November, Wopke Hoekstra said: “Kenya has developed itself into a truly crucial player for regional stability, security and of course prosperity”. He said that the EU and Nairobi shared similar views on many multilateral issues, particularly climate change.
Describing a difficult geopolitical landscape, the European Commissioner nonetheless stressed that “this does not diminish the absolute urgency, the absolute necessity to tackle climate change”, to prevent climate change from amplifying conflicts and instabilities.
With clear targets, the European Commissioner stressed the importance of seeing global greenhouse gas emissions peak by 2025 “at the latest, to keep 1.5°C within reach”. “By 2030, global greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 43% less than 2019 levels”, he explained, stressing the need to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
Acknowledging that current policies were leading to a temperature rise of 3°C, Wopke Hoekstra pointed out that Africa would be the continent most affected, reinforcing the need for global action. He suggested that measures to counter this scenario included innovative financial approaches such as “an international kerosene tax” and other levies on high-emitting industries.
Mr Hoekstra also praised Kenya’s efforts in the field of renewable energy, where the country has already made significant progress, with the aim of achieving “100% renewable electricity by 2030”. He saw Kenya as an example for Africa, demonstrating that the continent can offer many solutions to the climate crisis.
The EU, through the Global Gateway programme, is investing significantly in Kenya, with more than “€3.47 billion in 120 green projects, and around €430 million on the digital transition”, said the European Commissioner for Climate Action, to demonstrate the EU’s commitment to supporting Africa’s green transition and building close cooperation in sectors critical to sustainability. As Mr Hoekstra pointed out, this joint commitment will be consolidated by the imminent signature of an Economic Partnership Agreement between Kenya and the EU (see EUROPE 13204/10).
Read the speech: https://aeur.eu/f/9gn (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)