Developed nations, predominantly comprising countries from Europe, the Americas, and Asia, are being encouraged to increase their financial support to address climate change crises in Africa. Gerald Lepariyo, an environmental advocate from the Ilchamus community in Baringo County, emphasized the need for developed nations to allocate more resources to combat climate change and protect vulnerable communities from its severe impacts. Speaking at the Africa Climate Summit 2023, Lepariyo expressed confidence that African nations would come together to advocate for greater funding from global aid organizations and developed countries to safeguard Africa against future food insecurity and climate-related crises.
He highlighted the significance of the Africa Climate Summit 2023 as an opportunity for indigenous communities in Kenya and across Africa to amplify their voices and be included in both national and global climate decisions. Gerald pointed out that pastoral communities in Kenya, such as the Ilchamus, are particularly susceptible to climate change due to droughts and floods, which often result in livestock losses, deaths, and displacement.
As a youth from the Ilchamus indigenous community, he eagerly anticipates the Nairobi Climate Declaration 2023, which aims to prioritize the inclusion of indigenous and pastoral communities in the Africa Climate Summit 2023, championed by Kenya’s President William Ruto. This inaugural summit aims to address the growing exposure to climate change and its associated costs, both on a global scale and especially in Africa.
Given the anticipated increase in the frequency and intensity of climate crises, urgent action is necessary to mitigate these challenges. The Africa Climate Summit serves as a platform to inform, shape, and influence commitments, pledges, and outcomes, ultimately leading to the development of the Nairobi Declaration.
While there was a 4 percent increase in climate financing for poorer countries in 2020, totaling more than $83 billion, it still fell short of the annual goal of $100 billion set in 2009.