Last year in Berlin, the great Kenyan long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge broke the world marathon record, clocking two hours, one minute and nine seconds, and beating his previous time by 30 seconds. His success has made him a legend not only in Kenya, but globally. This offers a useful lesson for everyone involved in the fight against climate change.
Kipchoge’s winning strategy is rooted in the science of running — as well as 193km of hard work every week. The world’s approach to the climate crisis must involve the same level of commitment and focus.
As temperatures keep rising and emissions soar, the planet, too, continues to break new records, albeit dangerous ones.
Yet with determination and follow-through, countries — together with institutional partners and other governments — can start to run faster to get ahead of the climate crisis. Success depends on following the latest science and mobilizing a joint, broad-based effort of governments and citizens.
In March, the world’s top climate experts and governments signed off on the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) synthesis report. Once again, the IPCC’s message was stark: Humans have permanently changed the planet, and global warming is already killing people, destroying nature and making the world poorer.
Although African countries have contributed the least to the problem, they are bearing the brunt of the damage.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has said that Africa accounts for less than 3 percent of the world’s energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, and 600 million Africans — an outrageous figure — still do not have access to electricity.
Climate change is a shared problem that the global community must solve by working together, especially given the disproportionate burden being placed on those who are least responsible. During his recent visit to Kenya, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and I held talks on ways to address the climate crisis. Through the Germany-Kenya Climate and Development Partnership, our two countries have committed to deepen our collaboration on climate-resilient development and renewable energy, including by supporting green-hydrogen production and sustainable agriculture.
The world is a long way from limiting global warming to 1.5°C or even 2°C, as envisaged in the Paris Agreement. The climate crisis will not solve itself. On the contrary, countries must ensure that global greenhouse gas emissions peak before 2025 at the latest, and then fall by at least 43 percent by 2030.
This is the year to drive that transformation. The UN’s COP28 climate summit in November and December offers an opportunity to accelerate the energy transition, supercharge the growth of renewables and commit to phase out all fossil fuels — starting with coal.
Kenya is on track to meet these goals. It already generates 92 percent of its power from clean sources and has committed to achieving a 100 percent clean electricity network by 2030.
Similarly, renewables last year generated 46 percent of Germany’s electricity, and the government has committed to increase that to 80 percent by 2030. Critically, these commitments would not only ensure clean power and a safer environment; they would create jobs, attract investment and make our economies more secure and resilient in the face of volatile oil and gas prices.
However, it is important that countries run this race as a team.
The global ratio of clean energy investments to dirty energy investments must increase sixfold by 2030 (from 1.5:1 to 9:1), the IEA has said.
With a strong partnership between Africa, Europe, and the rest of the international community, Kenya, with its abundant resources, can make significant contributions to decarbonization and the global transition to a net zero economy.
Climate finance and investment must be unlocked to harness the potential for green economic growth.
Yet to do that, the international financial system must be fixed, as it has proven inadequate for dealing fairly with multifaceted global crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate emergency to debt distress across the Global South.
Next month’s Summit for a New Global Financial Pact, in Paris, provides an opportunity for Europe to galvanize support for reforming the international financial system.
The international community must recognize its potential to help solve global problems and take steps to ensure win-win outcomes. That means providing access to affordable, adequate and sustainable financing that is delivered in a timely manner.
As countries reduce emissions, they also need to prepare their people and their housing, agriculture and food systems for rising temperatures and extreme weather events. Meeting the 2021 COP26 commitment to double global climate-adaptation financing by 2025 remains crucial for protecting people and nature.
The latest IPCC report is clear: Climate change and insufficient adaptation and mitigation efforts are reversing development gains and undermining economic stability.
However, adaptation has its limits and climate change is already threatening millions of peoples’ lives.
As the IPCC has said, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent this decade and stabilizing global warming at or below 1.5°C is still the best chance of keeping the problem at a manageable scale.
Kenya’s climate summit in September is a key opportunity to showcase the continent’s commitment and potential, as well as opportunities to deal with the climate crisis.
All governments need to step up and agree to phase out unabated fossil fuel use. Reforms are required to make financial institutions and systems fit for purpose, and climate action must be taken seriously.
In the words of Kipchoge, the key to success is to “walk your talk.”
William Ruto is president of Kenya.
Copyright: Project Syndicate
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