NOREB COUNTIES CONVERGE IN NANDI COUNTY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION
Nandi county played host to Climate change advocacy forum that brought together the counties of Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Samburu, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu and West Pokot in a bid to identify, prioritize and finance investments to reduce climate risk and achieve adaptation priorities.
The two-day seminar by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), through the Kenyan Designated Platform, Kenya Platform for Climate Governance (KPCG), are in Nandi county to officially launch a platform for climate governance, with an aim of strengthening Climate Justice movements that anchor CSO efforts on climate Justice in the Noreb counties to gel climate change actors, community-based organizations and civil society organizations on climate change within the Counties.
The effects of climate change in Nandi are extensive, affecting approximately 83% of farming households. Excess rainfall, low temperatures, frost and hailstorms, and changes to the growing seasons are the most prevalent climatic hazards in the county.
The County Government of Nandi has prioritized environmental conservation as it seeks to contribute to the goals of the Paris Agreement that is within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Goals.
According to Director for Lands Environment and Natural Resources James Melly, the Climate Change Action plan that is already in place has helped the county rehabilitate the riparian lands, wetlands and Nandi Escarpment.
He reiterated that the county will strengthen its existing structures such as the climate change champions from the county’s staff in the various departments, to lead the process. The climate change champions will be capacitated on how to mainstream climate action in their various sector plans such as water, agriculture, gender and infrastructure and develop project proposals for climate finance and be able to raise awareness and educate the community on climate change.