Peter Salasya, the Member of Parliament for Mumias East, is openly discussing his interpretation of climate change. During the Africa Climate Summit held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Salasya gave an interview to the YouTube channel SPM Buzz, where he attempted to explain the purpose of the convention.
In the interview, Salasya hesitated with numerous “uuuhs” and “uuums” before stating, “As we are all aware, it’s that, it’s climate change because you find that, by the way, climate change is real because of the global warming.” He then shared an anecdote about feeling cold in Mombasa and being told that excessive sunlight was causing ice to melt, resulting in colder temperatures.
Despite some laughter from an aide standing beside him, the interview continued, and Salasya was asked about his efforts in championing climate action. He mentioned advocating for the use of Koko Jiko and other gas alternatives for cooking in rural constituencies but expressed concern about affordability and hoped for government measures to reduce cooking gas prices.
When asked if he had a plan to propose for combating climate change in African governments, Salasya mentioned having a plan to submit for funding and implementation. He also expressed interest in acquiring an electric car similar to the one the president used to attend the summit.
The Africa Climate Summit, with the theme “Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World,” is taking place until Wednesday. The convention, organized by the African Union Commission in collaboration with Kenya, aims to enable African nations to develop specific plans, allocate resources, advocate for changes in the global financial system, share knowledge and practical solutions, and update Africa’s development and climate vision.
As for the definition of climate change, the United Nations defines it as long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns caused by natural factors like changes in solar activity and volcanic eruptions, as well as human activities. Human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, have been the primary driver of climate change since the 1800s. These activities release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, which trap heat from the sun and raise global temperatures. Other contributors to greenhouse gas emissions include land clearing, deforestation, agriculture, and various industrial and transportation sectors.