President Uhuru Kenyatta took to the podium on Tuesday, September 24, at the United Nations General Assembly to urge world leaders present to listen to the cries of the current generation and institute the necessary changes if they hope to secure their future.
Seeking to concur with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' speech, Kenyatta urged for the need to read the signs and think outside the box before things get out of hand.
His response came following a tough scolding of world leaders at the summit by a teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg, over the impact that the environmental changes would have on future generations.
President Kenyatta's pleas were also occasioned by damning scientific reports which claimed that the period between 2015 and 2019 was the hottest 5-year period ever recorded.
The sobering records had prompted Guterres to warn world leaders that the United Nations Climate Action Summit would not be business as usual.
"The ticket's to enter today's summit is not a beautiful speech, but a concrete plan. Governments, cities, businesses and many more are here to present their commitments for the green future for all. Acting together, we will leave no one behind," he stated.
Earlier in the day, the presidents and other dignitaries had been treated to a passionate and moving speech from a 16-year-old climate change activist, Gretha Thunberg, who called upon world leaders to act with urgency.
President Kenyatta, taking a cue from the sentiments took to the podium to call upon other world leaders to follow in Kenya's footsteps and take initiative.
He reported that Kenya had taken conscious efforts to ensure that it was meeting the internationally agreed climate obligations in the sectors of the blue economy, energy, and the environment.
"Our commitment to tackling climate change is deep and arises out of the need to secure our future and that of our children as we have been victims of droughts and declining rainfall, which have destroyed our lives and livelihoods," he stated.
Many countries in the world are taking initiative to ensure that the alarming changes are mitigated in due time. The UN Secretary-General warned that the fight against climate change was a race that was being lost but still had the potential to be won.
