The lights flickered.
The people rose.
The cameras clicked.
It could not be forced.
It could not be commanded into existence.
It had to gestate, develop, ferment.
From Day 0 (September 3) to Day 3 (September 6), each day raising the bar higher, the decibels just a little louder, and the people even warmer.
The visual pizzaz was only rivaled by the razzmatazz as the curtains closed on the debut edition of the Climate Action Zone at the Radisson Blu in Upper Hill, a side event of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre from September 4 to 6.
This was a climate action zone as Alliance For Science envisaged it, elevating panel discussions into action-point declarations.
Action-packed, fun-filled four days that had the room filled on a Sunday morning – a rare feat – and ended with a call to action in the form of a draft 10-point declaration.
Delegates from all walks of climate braved the chilly Sunday morning and, one by one, streamed into the hotel as early as 7am.
The event started on September 3, 2023, christened Day 0 or Pre-ACS Summit.
Delegates from all walks of climate braved the chilly Sunday morning and, one by one, streamed into the hotel as early as 7am.
They looked too elegant for a Sunday – probably donning their Sunday best.
And they were received warmly by the friendly, charming staff of the Alliance for Science and its partners, who had been preparing for this one-of-a-kind event for several weeks.
When the delegates finally settled down for what Africa had to say about the troubling matter of climate change, Nasra Nanda, the chief executive of the Kenya Green Building Society – the co-convener of the Pre-ACS Summit – decided that it was important to start with entertainment to set the room in the right mood.
So, after Kenya national and East African anthems were sounded, the room was treated to a spoken word titled, ‘I am an African’ by South Africa’s former President Thabo Mbeki.
The dramatized drumming, singing, and dancing were ecstatic, matched by the participants’ energy.
But when Gahigo Drummers from Burundi took to the stage, everyone was on their feet, no one wanting to miss the moment.
The dramatized drumming, singing, and dancing were ecstatic, matched by the participants’ energy.
The music brought out the child in Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, who was the day’s chief guest, and he could not hide his joy as he joined the troupe in drumming.
The drummers only partially settled down after their performance.
“We have to ground climate action within the realities of Africans.”
They kept accentuating and pleasantly interrupting the opening speeches as speakers delivered quotable quotes.
“The week ahead, starting today presents an opportunity for African states to highlight their ambitions for Africa,” Nanda said, setting the stage for the entire Climate Action Zone.
When Philip Thigo, the Executive Director of Africa for Thunderbird School of Global Management, took to the podium to welcome the first set of speakers, he had a powerful quote.
“We have to ground climate action within the realities of Africans,” said Thiggo.
Before welcoming the chief guest to give his remarks, Alliance for Science Executive Director Dr Sheila Ochugboju welcomed the delegates, reminding them that they had been talking too much and the time for action was now!
“Our challenges are urgent. Climate. Money. Infrastructure. Resources. These are severe challenges. Climate change is here.”
“It’s time for us to dream of a better future, but we must be prepared for what it will cost us. We must bring the energy and enthusiasm for action because there is no more time for talking,” said Dr Ochugboju.
Governor Sakaja officially opened the Climate Action Zone with promises of what his administration plans to do to make life more bearable for the city residents amidst the climate crisis.
“All our interventions must be practical; we must talk about green jobs and the future and our young people.
“Our challenges are urgent. Climate. Money. Infrastructure. Resources. These are severe challenges. Climate change is here,” he said.
Oh, and there was a lot of food for the guests, sumptuous, finger-licking (although the hospitable hotel staff provided cutlery).
Jackline Koin, the Resilience Ambassador for Alliance for Science, stood up to offer her final remarks; she buttressed what had been a running theme through the few days that the scientists had been directed to provide solutions and what each actor was going to do toward solving the issues of climate change.
“Climate change is not about looking for big things but starting small because human activity drives climate change.”
“We have declarations from the civil society that have been presented to the heads of state and the African Union. We also have a children’s declaration that has also been presented. It is not time to do things the usual way. This is our time for action.”
At the Children’s Summit, the focus was on the children’s innovation towards climate change.
The young learners who attended — from primary and high schools — were taken through the DNA extraction procedure using ethanol and a series of demonstrations using liquid nitrogen, such as how to deflate balloons and how to dry a banana leaf.
Waziri Jackline’s words were echoed by Dr Kenneth Monjero, also known as Dr Fun, a scientist and science communicator who questioned the method of science communication.
“Are the farmers even understanding what the scientists are saying?” he posed. “Climate change is not about looking for big things but starting small because human activity drives climate change. We thank Alliance for Science, one of the players giving a platform to address climate change issues.”
The socioeconomic impact of the climate crisis is felt by the most vulnerable, including girls from marginalized communities who face early marriages, pregnancies, young motherhood, and heightened poverty.
Dr Fun is the founder of Fun and Education Global Network and Director of KALRO Science Centre.
At the National Farmers Day Campaign on Day Two, the panel of farmers and experts discussed food security challenges, such as the prolonged drought that has caused food scarcity, driving up food prices.
The socioeconomic impact of the climate crisis is felt by the most vulnerable, including girls from marginalized communities who face early marriages, pregnancies, young motherhood, and heightened poverty.
Alliance for Science Executive Director Dr Ochugboju capped it off with a personal story of how we settled on superheroes to represent the Sustainable Development Goals.
When Dr Ochugboju left for London at nine years of age, she, in a bid to be cool, used to tell her classmates that she had superpowers and she could make the wind blow.
Turns out it was just a prank, but the seed had been planted.
Years later, the SDG superheroes became a live concept created and developed by the Alliance for Science to boost awareness around SDGs.
Out of the 17 SDGs, the Alliance for Science prioritized five: No Poverty (SDG 1), each one should be able to afford a meal daily.
In Zero Hunger (SDG 2), it is estimated that over 800 million people sleep hungry. Science was challenged to meet that need, and the people to think of plant-based diets.
In Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), everyone is responsible for caring for their health. Health is wealth.
The Action Superheroes interacted with the attendees, sensitizing them to the SDGs they represented.
When it comes to Quality Education (SDG 4), it is imperative to learn more and champion quality education that is equitable and inclusive. Each one, teach one, and in SDG 13 — Climate Action, it’s your and mine’s responsibility to take urgent action and be responsible.
All these five SDGs were represented by six SDG Action Superheroes (the sixth, SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy, because what is life without energy?) dressed in colorful costumes.
The Action Superheroes interacted with the attendees, sensitizing them to the SDGs they represented.
Four action-packed days, more than 3,000 delegates, at least five daily seminars, dance, and entertainment from Sarakasi All Stars and high-placed dignitaries who graced the event, including Former First Lady of South Africa Graca Machel.
The MC for the event was Bonnie Tunya, who gave the most befitting of rallying calls: Climate Action Zone: Time for Action.
Others were Thandie Villadsen, the Regional Humanitarian Diplomacy Coordinator, Africa Region, at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Justice Gertrude Chawatama, a Zambian High Court judge, Kulthoum Omari-Motsumi, the coordinator for the African Group of Negotiations (AGN) on the Africa Adaptation Initiative and Argentinian diplomat of Environmental Affairs Joaquin Salzberg.
The MC for the event was Bonney Tunya, who gave the most befitting of rallying calls: Climate Action Zone: Time for Action.