Kenya has announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32% by 2030 and targets 100% clean cooking by 2028, two years ahead of the 2030 UN target.
President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the plans and said the move aims to mitigate the effects of climate change. The nation plans to make its electricity grid 100% renewable energy, up from the current 90%.
“Kenya’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) that was submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2020, commits to reducing emissions by 32% by 2030 against the business as Usual (BAU) scenario,” said Uhuru.
Greenhouse Gas Emission Strategy
“Kenya is the first country to pioneer geothermal energy and is also home to one of the largest wind power project in the world. Our geothermal potential is great and the amount currently tapped is less than 10%. This presents huge investments opportunities across the technology value chain as well as huge opportunities for employment. 310.25 MW Lake Turkana Wind Power is one of the largest such installations in Africa,” added the head of state.
President Uhuru noted that the country is in the process of developing a Greenhouse Gas Emission Strategy (LTS) for 2050; and will submit the report to United Nations Framework for Convention on Climate Change before COP 26, in November 2021.
“To meet the energy needs of the rural communities, my Administration has deployed digital technologies. Using an innovative “pay-as-you-go” mobile money credit facility, better known as “Mkopa”, these communities have switched from kerosene to solar for lighting, and to power appliances such as televisions and fridges,” said President Kenyatta.
