Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru has called on regional leaders to play an intentional role in the fight against the effects of climate change.
While making her remarks during the East African Community Conference of the Parties (COP) 28 side event on Wednesday, Waiguru advocated for three approaches to be considered by the EAC leaders including Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Tanzania's Samia Suluhu.
The CoG wants EAC countries to collaborate particularly within sectors responsible for managing ecosystems to create effective resilient strategies.
Further, Waiguru advocated for local governments to be actively involved in the adaptation planning process.
She credited the approach taken by Kenya at the sub-national level where 47 County Governments established the County Climate Change Funds to support climate action.
The Kirinyaga Governor stated that the Fund invests approximately Ksh3 billion towards the initiative.
Her final approach involved incorporating traditional knowledge and practices from each community and also adopting gender-sensitive tools and strategies.
This, according to Waiguru, would ensure inclusivity and address gender-specific vulnerabilities.
"The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) establishes an international framework for countries to collaborate in tackling climate change, urging binding commitments to emissions reductions and negotiating strategies for achieving them," the governor highlighted.
"While international efforts on mitigation have gained momentum, concerted and coordinated cross-country action on climate adaptation has been slower. Sometimes even individual adaptation actions by one country can generate and transmit risks to other countries, leading to emerging transboundary adaptation risks."
Waiguru emphasised that climate action transcends national boundaries and a joint approach will be instrumental in solving the issue.
"Unfortunately for us all, Nature does not respect our manmade boundaries of Nations. But here in lies our blessing, the opportunity and necessity for coordinated regional strategies to both mitigate and adapt to the transboundary challenges arising from these environmental shifts in East Africa," she noted.
The EAC hosted COP28 side events to focus on key areas including crisis prevention, climate action, international relations, investment promotion and private sector development across the region.
During COP 28, President William Ruto secured Ksh682 billion for development projects to enable a 100 per cent transition towards renewable energy by 2030.
