Kenya has endorsed a carbon tax on all shipping activities globally as part of the broader scheme to curb the perennial climate crisis.
In a statement on Tuesday, March 25, Kenya’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, Ambassador Ali Mohammed, expressed the country’s approval of the tax, stating that Kenya was among the frontline casualties of climate challenges.
According to him, the current climate menace did not originate from Kenya but from industrialised nations, particularly those in the West with outsized historical emissions.
“Under the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, those who fuelled climate change must lead in funding the solutions,” he said.
Reports indicate that shipping accounts for 3 per cent of global green house gas emissions, and if unchecked, the figure could climb.
In his view, Mohammed noted that a proposed carbon levy on the shipping industry could offer an urgent and transformative opportunity for Kenya.
If approved into law, it would be the first global tax within the pollution sector, with the World Bank estimating that the levy could generate Ksh7.7 trillion annually.
Funds raised from the tax would then be channelled to countries vulnerable to climate change, such as Kenya and other developing nations.
“Kenya endorses this initiative unequivocally. It aligns with our national commitment to cutting emissions and advancing sustainable development,” Mohammed noted.
Countries that heavily rely on shipping were urged to invest in zero-emission vessels, renewable fuels, and resilient port infrastructure to avoid incurring the charges.
However, while the tax would benefit most developing nations, it also comes with drawbacks, including increased importation costs.
With most African nations heavily reliant on maritime trade, Mohammed called on relevant stakeholders to ensure that the tax does not widen global market disparities.
