Local weather change affecting incomes of most Kenyans

• A survey by the European Funding Financial institution has revealed that almost all Kenyans imagine local weather change and environmental injury have affected their revenue or supply of livelihood
• Losses related to local weather change in Kenya embody extreme drought, rising sea ranges or coastal erosion, or excessive climate occasions comparable to floods or hurricanes
• The survey additionally discovered that almost all Kenyans, at 81%, mentioned that investing in renewable vitality needs to be prioritised

A brand new survey now reveals that almost all Kenyans, at 97%, say local weather change is already affecting their on a regular basis lives.

The primary version of the European Funding Financial institution’s 2022 Local weather Survey discovered that 76% of Kenyans imagine that local weather change and environmental injury have affected their revenue or supply of livelihood.

The survey aimed to tell the broader debate on attitudes and expectations concerning local weather motion and sampled over 6,000 respondents, together with 1 000 Kenyans aged 15 and over, from 10 African nations. EIB surveyed respondents between 1 and 25 August 2022, with a consultant panel for every nation polled.

The survey additionally discovered that almost all Kenyans, at 81%, mentioned that investing in renewable vitality needs to be prioritised.

The survey outcomes confirmed that local weather change has negatively affected the livelihoods of the Kenyan folks. These losses are usually as a consequence of extreme drought, rising sea ranges or coastal erosion, or excessive climate occasions comparable to floods or hurricanes.

A excessive 78% of Kenyans, in contrast with the African common of 57%, mentioned they or folks they know have already taken some type of motion to adapt to the impression of local weather change. A few of these initiatives embody investments in water-saving applied sciences to scale back the impression of drought and drain clearing prematurely of flooding.

In the meantime, almost half (48%) of Kenyans mentioned local weather change is without doubt one of the greatest challenges folks of their nation are at present going through, subsequent to different high challenges comparable to inflation or entry to meals.

When requested in regards to the vitality sources their nation ought to spend money on to fight local weather change, 81% of Kenyan respondents (in contrast with the African common of 76%) say that renewable vitality needs to be prioritised, far forward of fossil fuels (12%).

Local weather change in Kenya and renewable vitality 

In line with the report, Kenya’s renewable vitality sector is pushed by an excellent mixture of renewable vitality, together with geothermal, wind, hydro- and a few utility-scale solar energy.

The nation is already within the high 10 nations globally for electrical energy technology from geothermal energy, with near 1 000 MW of put in capability.

“This can be a signal of Kenya’s sturdy dedication to international local weather motion, together with the nation’s bold nationally decided contribution beneath the Paris Settlement,” the report mentioned.

The EIB has partnered with the Kenyan authorities and personal sector gamers of their work to advertise the worldwide inexperienced vitality transition, taking it to the following degree with local weather mitigation measures within the transport and trade sectors.

That is evident from the not too long ago commissioned Olkaria Unit 6 geothermal plant supported by the EIB. The plant will additional strengthen Kenya’s rating as a rustic with one of many world’s highest shares of renewable vitality (wind, photo voltaic and geothermal).

Henriette Geiger, EU Ambassador to Kenya, mentioned that the nation’s exceptional renewable vitality sources might allow a inexperienced and sustainable economic system if totally harnessed.

Local weather change threatens livelihoods of greater than 100 million Africans

“The EU Delegation is able to help Kenya in transferring in direction of a extra regenerative economic system to assist mitigate the damaging impacts of local weather change. With the World Gateway, the EU and EIB intend to advertise additional large-scale investments in Africa,” Geiger mentioned.

On the similar time, Thomas Östros, vice-president of the EIB, mentioned that EIB is working intently with Kenyan companions to speed up the inexperienced transition and to mobilise local weather motion funding. This consists of help for large-scale clear vitality, sustainable transport, and water and wastewater administration.

Demand for electricity in Kenya rises

In a associated story, the nationwide demand for electrical energy hit a brand new peak demand of two,051MW in Could 2022, up from 2,036MW recorded in November 2021, to indicate an accelerated progress and restoration in demand which slowed down within the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The brand new peak demand was recorded on twelfth Could 2022 within the Day by day System Operation and Dispatch Evaluation Report by Vitality and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). The expansion was pushed primarily by renewable vitality sources, with geothermal vitality making the best contribution, additional boosting Kenya’s local weather motion agenda.

In line with the Day by day Energy Technology and Dispatch Evaluation Report launched on 19, Could 2022, by Vitality and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), the nation’s highest vitality gross demand was recorded on 18th Could 2022, registering a 2.5% progress to document a brand new peak of 37,273.17MWh up from 36,380.63MWh in November final yr.

NSE-listed electrical energy generator KenGen PLC’s geothermal energy stations in Olkaria, Naivasha offered the biggest share of 14,763.37MWh throughout the latest evaluation. KenGen at present boasts 713MW of geothermal vitality technology capability and is readying to fee one other 83MW in its latest energy plant, the Olkaria I further unit 6.

Africa: Local weather change results worsen agricultural output, meals safety