The Kenyan government plans to position Nairobi as a global environmental hub for addressing the triple planetary crises of nature loss, pollution, and climate change. Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’oei emphasized the government’s intention to strengthen partnerships with leading science institutions in the city to spearhead these efforts.
“As a global leader in environmental and climate action, especially as the host of the United Nations Environment Programme, we are ramping up our environmental diplomacy to make Nairobi the hub for environmental thought leadership. Here, solutions to the crises of nature loss, pollution, and climate change will be tested, piloted, and shared worldwide,” Sing’oei said.
He spoke at the World Agroforestry Centre (Icraf) on World Food Day 2024, where he highlighted Kenya’s collaboration with institutions such as Cifor-Icraf and the Stockholm Environment Institute to leverage their expertise.
Sing’oei noted that food security remains a key national priority, aligning with the government’s Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and the fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP), aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger.
“We are promoting increased investment in food production, storage, and distribution throughout the country,” he said, adding that deforestation and land degradation are critical challenges affecting food security in Africa and Kenya.
To address these issues, the government launched the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Programme, with the goal of growing 15 billion trees, restoring 10.6 million hectares of degraded land, and achieving 30% tree cover by 2032. This initiative aims to enhance food security, improve livelihoods, and promote climate resilience.
“A crucial aspect of the 15 billion trees program is helping Kenyans plant the right tree in the right place at the right time. We appreciate Cifor-Icraf’s support through tree seedlings and technical assistance,” Sing’oei added.
