Kenya is ready to take the lead on carbon removal as the next biggest solution to the climate change crisis.
Ali Mohamed, the Special Secretary for Climate Change at the Executive Office of the President, says the country has been pushing the carbon removal agenda since 2018 because the government is convinced that this is the new direction the world needs to take.
Mohamed was speaking in Nairobi, Kenya on the second day of Kenya’s first National Workshop on Carbon Removal.
The workshop — held on February 27 and 28, 2023 — was organized by the government in collaboration with the Global Carbon Removal Partnership, Thunderbird School of Global Management, and Alliance for Science.
The journey toward carbon removal
“The process is not yet agreed on the world over and there are probably risks involved, but the matter of concern right now is that greenhouse gases keep increasing despite all the efforts to fight it so far,” Mr Mohamed said.
“We are willing and ready to carry out all the feasibility studies and tests needed before we roll out the carbon removal process to ensure all the risks are removed.”
Thunderbird School of Global Management Dean Sanjeev Khagram said Kenya’s journey toward carbon removal started in 2018 and there is no going back.
“We had a dream four years ago and we’ve come a long way. One of the greatest sources for carbon removal is here in Kenya – in the Rift Valley,” said Mr Khagram.
He said a responsible carbon removal initiative must adhere to five principles: durability, performance, social and environmental equity, transparency, and inclusivity.
“We want to connect investors to transmission lines to accelerate green manufacturing. We will make our exports products of green energy.”
The workshop was part of the efforts to lay the groundwork for a climate summit to be hosted by President Ruto from September 4 to 6, 2023.
It brought together global experts on climate action, who gave presentations on why Kenya is a key partner for the success of carbon removal efforts.
It was opened by Peninah Malonza, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Tourism on behalf of First Lady Rachel Ruto, who underscored the importance of including women in efforts to mitigate climate change impacts.
Mr Mohamed said the government will push the carbon removal agenda at the climate summit and asked for the support of all the experts passionate about removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Alex Wachira, the Principal Secretary Ministry of Energy promised to have Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) and the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) provide the energy that will be needed in the carbon removal initiative.
“There is moral clarity for carbon removal in Kenya than in any other place in the world.”
He said the government is going green in its energy supply and manufacturing as part of the Energy ministry’s efforts to fight climate change.
“I also urge the climate champions and experts to support us, but please come with renewable energy because that is our next frontier,” said Mr Wachira.
“We want to connect investors to transmission lines to accelerate green manufacturing. We will make our exports products of green energy.”
Octavia Carbon founder and chief executive Martin Freimuller said his company built a machine that filters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They are planning to try it out in Kenya.
“We need to build things here in Kenya. There is moral clarity for carbon removal in Kenya than in any other place in the world,” he said.
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The writer is an editorial consultant and consulting science editor for Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA).
Email: gombogo@rocketmail.com