Kenya is among 15 African countries that have been commended for ratifying the Paris Agreement on climate change by representatives of over 1,000 civil society organisations (CSOs) in Africa, ahead of the Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA) conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In the same vein, Kenya’s Cabinet last week approved the National Climate Change Policy Framework, which provides a roadmap for coordinated response to climate change and urban development. The framework has been submitted to Parliament for adoption.

The country is now among the 81 countries globally that have ratified the climate change agreement out of the 197 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Speaking at the UN conference centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, James Murombedzi of the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) hailed Kenya for championing ambitious climate policies in the run-up to Paris and by spearheading the implementation process.

“Kenya has set an example that should be emulated by the remaining African countries to demonstrate their commitment to concrete actions. We commend Kenya’s ratification as this is important to delivering the expected results,” Murombedzi said.

Mithika Mwenda, the secretary general of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), said Kenya’s step now paves way for it to benefit from the money the civil society is pushing for.

“Kenya now stands to benefit from the $100 billion pledged by developed countries to developing ones and that even larger sums be leveraged from investors, banks and the private sector that can build towards the $7 trillion needed to support a world-wide transformation on climate change,” Mwenda said.

Kenya has also enacted Climate Change Act, 2016 which provides a regulatory framework for enhanced response to achieve low carbon climate resilient development.

Other policy measures to achieve a green economy in Kenya are the National Climate Change Action Plan 2013-2017, Climate Change Response Strategy 2010 and Environmental Management and Coordination Act CAP 387.

Environment Cabinet Secretary (CS) noted Government has identified nine areas where urgent mitigation actions should be undertaken using the billions of shillings.

“Among the nine are restoration of forests and degraded lands, developing an additional 2,275 megawatts of geothermal energy, restoration of degraded forests, encouraging Kenyans to use improved cookstoves and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and agroforestry,” she said.

Others include bus rapid transit and light rail corridors, develop greenhouse gas inventory and improvement of emissions data, measuring, reporting on and monitoring forestry emissions and sinks and mainstreaming of low-carbon development options into planning processes.

“To achieve the above, government needs to undertake a programme of work to restore forests on 960,000 hectares up to 2030 including dryland forest restoration activities, developing, testing and application of compensation and benefits-sharing mechanisms and develop an additional 2,275 MW of geothermal capacity by 2030 through a support programme aimed at encouraging private sector investment,” Wakhungu said.

The country also needs to undertake a programme of work to replant forests on 240,000 hectares of land that were previously forests, increase awareness of improved cooking practices, undertaking pilot initiatives which promote the use of LPG, increasing awareness of stove quality, increasing access to soft loans, building capacity of stove producers, and improving access to testing facilities.

She said the country needs to convert 281,000 hectares of existing arable cropland and grazing land that have medium or high agricultural potential to agroforestry and implement an extensive mass transit system for greater Nairobi, based predominantly on bus rapid transit corridors complemented by a few Light Rail Transit corridors as other mitigation measures.

Others include developing a national forest inventory, forest reference scenario, and a monitoring and reporting system that allows for transparent accounting of emissions and removals in the forestry and land-use sectors.

Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UNFCCC, also congratulated countries that have ratified the agreement. “This is a truly historic moment for people everywhere. The two key thresholds needed for the Paris Climate Change Agreement to become legal reality have now been met,” she said.

She added, “The speed at which countries have made the Paris Agreement’s entry into force possible is unprecedented in recent experience of international agreements and is a powerful confirmation of the importance nations attach to combating climate change and realising the multitude of opportunities inherent in the Paris Agreement.

Under the Paris Agreement, governments are obligated to take action to achieve the temperature goals enshrined in the Agreement – keeping the average global temperature rise from pre-industrial times below 2 degrees C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees.

The CCDA conference is an annual event by the Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) Programme and a joint initiative of the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Africa is using the conference to forge a common ground ahead of the UN climate conference, known as COP22, in Marrakesh, Morocco next month.

Secretary General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, has congratulated Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), on the entering into force of the Paris Agreement, as well as the effective support provided by the UNFCCC secretariat in the process.

Mr Barkindo, a Nigerian, made the submission last Friday in Bonn, Germany during a visit to the UNFCCC secretariat. He described the successful implementation of the Agreement as a priority for OPEC, adding that OPEC Member Countries have been involved in climate change negotiations and the implementation of the Convention since its inception process.

During the visit, which was aimed at enhancing cooperation between the UNFCCC and OPEC and exchange views on recent developments, Mr Barkindo and Ms Espinosa, along with senior delegations from both organisations, discussed the importance of enhancing cooperation between the UNFCCC and OPEC, especially on matters related to climate change, sustainable development and economic diversification.

The meeting, which took place just a few days after the Paris Agreement reached the threshold for entry into force on 5 October 2016, builds on the ongoing involvement of OPEC in climate change negotiations and the active participation of its Member Countries.

The UNFCCC secretariat shared information regarding a high level event on sustainable economic transition and economic diversification to be organised by the Moroccan Presidency during COP22. The event is expected to be attended by Ministers and heads of delegations and targets raising awareness of the importance of economic diversification and transformation in relation to the impact of the implementation of mitigation measures and how that is linked to sustainable development for many developing countries.

The leaders agreed that enhancement of cooperation between the two organisations is beneficial, particularly since the OPEC Secretariat is an intergovernmental organisation representing 14 developing countries, all of which are also Parties to the UNFCCC. Such teamwork enhances input from developing countries in the implementation of both the Convention and the Paris Agreement, it was gathered.

The importance of inclusiveness and participation by all Parties in implementing the Paris Agreement was emphasised during the meeting, taking into account that sustainable development and poverty alleviation are high priorities for all.

The key role of oil in economic development and the right of developing countries to develop was stressed. In this regard, the OPEC efforts towards sustainable market stability were recognised as a contribution to a healthy global economy and helping implementation of the Convention and the Paris Agreement and the transition to a low emission economy.

Both secretariats acknowledged that economic diversification is an important objective for building economic resilience and agreed to explore all available capacities which can assist OPEC Member Countries in diversifying their economies and achieving just transition of work force.

The Paris Agreement will enter into force on 4 November 2016. As a result of this, the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1) will take place in Marrakech in conjunction with COP22/CMP12. Other important consequences of the above include the transformation of Parties’ INDCs into Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, which oblige governments to take action to contribute to achieving the temperature goals enshrined in the Agreement. Additionally, negotiations to develop the Paris Agreement’s implementation rule book are to be completed as soon as possible.

“As we have no immediate experience of what other men feel, we can form no idea of the manner in which they are affected, but by conceiving what we ourselves should feel in the like situation.” – Adam Smith.

It was one of those rainy days in the London metropolis. A young African man, dressed in traditional regalia that distinctly looked Nigerian, was seen entering a chauffeur-driven car outside Park Avenue Belgravia in London.

He must be from a royal family, for he was too young to be a politician, I told myself. Perhaps, he was one of those children of the rich, powerful, corrupt Nigerian politicians. But, wait a second. This cannot be; the sleek car was marked Al-Jazeera. I became curious. This boy must be very important.

So, as if ferried by unseen wheels, I found myself gliding closer to the boy in the luxury car. I wanted to know more about him. Maybe, we could become friends. With some kind of magic, I vaporised and found myself right inside the car.

Then, I got the shock of my life. The young man in the car was me. Hamzat Lawal. Could this be happening? Unbelievable! That was exactly how I felt the first time I was given VIP treatment during one of my international assignments. On that day, I had an interview session at Al-Jazeera, London office, and a chauffeur came to pick me. I still feel that way sometimes: A rather out-of-body experience at the pedestal that activism has placed me upon. Yes, I also feel blessed. But it is always as if I am watching my life play out before me.

Somebody might say it is because things are happening so fast for me. A young man in Nigeria, born without privileges and family connections, yet has found a voice and a spotlight to be a role model for other youths. Below 30, he is the Chief Executive of one of the most impactful non-profits in Nigeria, with a global recognition and acceptance. Surely, he must be giddy with glee.

But, to me, it is all about fulfillment. I truly feel fulfilled, not because one is rich or powerful or influential, but just because with my passion and energy I have been able to influence change and impact people’s lives. I have been able to contribute my little quota in entrenching more informed policies and decision making; where people will have a voice and the government is able to look beyond its comfort zone to actually address developmental issues.

Activism is my life. In fact, I enjoy it when I am called an activist. But I am acutely conscious of the fact that being passionate and straightforward alone did not get me to where I am today. This article – and others that will follow – shall tell the whole story.

With the advantage of hindsight, I can say that my personality and natural proclivities were the foundation upon which my present career is built. But the trigger that set my life off into the future that is now unfolding before me, is my contact with a particular individual (and his organisation) and a particular people (and their trauma).

Mr. Ewah Eleri, the Executive Director of International Centre for Energy, Environment & Development (ICEED), is a perfect gentleman. I met him at a time in my life when I was on transition from adolescence to adulthood, therefore the impression he had on me was as profound as it was paternal. Ewah, as he likes to be called, is a man of no contrived airs. He is highly cerebral and very simple at the same time. Being one of the pioneers of climate action in Nigeria, he played a central role in streamlining my exuberant energies towards development work.

I worked for ICEED as a rep serviceman from an IT firm, when I was just a back-packing “IT nerd”, full of youthful techie zeal. Looking back today, I could describe myself then as a novice, who was trying to build a career in the evolving information and communications technologies sector – computer hardware, software and related stuff.

Three years down the lane, when I was already developing itchy feet to broaden my professional horizon once again, Ewah discovered me.

He called me one fateful day and said, “Young man, do you like the work you are doing? If I give you an opportunity would you like to work with me?” I noted that he said “work with me” instead of “work for me”.

He gave me a very attractive offer as the IT specialist for ICEED. My job was to ensure that their systems were secured from external incursions, viruses and malware. I took the job.

Six months later, Ewah noticed that I was bored. Apparently, he perceived that there was a vacuum somewhere; as my personality never allowed me stay on one routine for too long. So, on this particular day, he came to my desk and wrote in front of me “www.unfccc.int” and said, “Hamzy! (he was the first person to call me that), go to this website and read about climate change. This site will help you get all the information you need about climate change. It will enable you understand the kind of work we do here and why we do what we do.”

I took my boss seriously. At that time my work just required technical tasks; I did not have capacity on organisational agendas and processes. I visited the UNFCCC website. I did a lot of research. I read and downloaded so many PDF documents. I read about all the meetings surrounding the Kyoto Protocol, and Rio Conference of I992. I went through the COPs and their resolutions; and the countries that signed on to them.

Then I got really interested. Something deep inside me came alive as I read those documents. I could not explain the feeling, but it was as if I was in my zone!

I joined Google groups because there were several of them, including youth-based ones involved in different activities. As I started getting e-mails about different activities and campaigns; I then joined a lot of campaigners and activists online. These were people who were carrying out action on national, regional and international levels calling on world leaders to take action.

This situation effectively took me back to my Boys Scout days in primary and secondary schools where I was actively involved in frontline environmental awareness and grassroots campaigns. I suddenly amassed a deep community consciousness, building on my last tasks as a Boy Scout troop leader in my Senior Secondary School days.

In 2012, something struck me concerning the lead poisoning that took place in Zamfara State two years earlier. I suddenly realised that nobody was talking about the disaster and the people affected after the fatal incident happened, killing more than 400 Nigerian children. There was no information and no details about present development. I then stumbled on the group Doctors Without Borders (Medicines Sans Frontiers) from whom I inquired briefing on the matter.

The MSF made me understand that a community called Bagega existed in Zamfara with about I500 children still affected. They let me know that the government was not doing much about alleviating the suffering of the communities who were suffering from the impacts of artisanal mining. They told me that the money that was allocated for the required intervention in the villages was looted by corrupt politicians and public officers.

I then felt an imperative to get first-hand information; so I informed MSF that I wanted to visit Bagega.

This was how I made my first trip to Zamfara, guided by MSF. After a journey of over fourteen hours I arrived Bagega and some other impacted communities, where I witnessed the suffering of children firsthand. I saw toddlers convulsing in care centers. I saw the misery in the eyes of mothers. I felt the helplessness of health workers as they struggled with scarce resources.

I recorded voices and took pictures of the visit, and the more I went through my notes the more something deep inside me came alive. A new energy was birthed in me. As the African would say, sleep left my eyes for good. I could not think of any other thing but how to help these Zamfara children.

When I came back to my desk at ICEED, I could not fully concentrate on my work anymore. The visions and sounds of Bagega kept playing in my mind like a broken record from a horror movie sound track.

Coming next – 2nd Article: “The Dilemma of Trading Places”.

Hamzy! is an Activist and currently the Co-Founder / Chief Executive of Connected Development [CODE]. He is working to build a growing grassroots movement of citizen-led actions through Follow The Money for better service delivery in rural communities. He Tweets via @HamzyCODE

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday urged Mayors across the world to “take strong ownership” of a new global agenda for sustainable development in the towns and cities they represent.

Speaking to a gathering of some 400 mayors, representatives of local authorities and urban partner organisations, Mr. Ban made this call in the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, on the eve of the official opening of the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, known by the shorthand Habitat III, which aims to re-think the planning and management of towns and cities across the world, through the adoption a the New Urban Agenda.

The Agenda, an action-oriented framework which will set global standards for achievement in sustainable urban development, should be prioritised alongside implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and its 17 Global Goals, or SDGs, agreed by 193 UN Member States just over a year ago in New York, added the Secretary-General.

He pointed Goal 11, which “pledges to make human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” And in that regard, “elected officials, Mayors, Governors and Councillors, are the forefront of the battle for sustainable development,” he said, to a loud applause from delegates to the Second World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments, also known as the World Mayors Assembly.

“In short, your role is growing by the year (…) You are faced with the immediate daily demands of your people: for housing, transport, infrastructure, and basic services.”

The Habitat III conference has been 20 years in the making; the third global summit of its kind, dedicated to housing and sustainable urban development.

By hosting the conference, Quito becomes the first city in the “Global South” to take on the role, and thousands have gathered to the picturesque capital, which straddles the equator. The city, with its historic and picturesque centre, was declared a World Heritage Site by the UN Educational and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) in 1978.

Mayors and the New Urban Agenda

Urban development is seen as an increasingly important priority for the United Nations, as the world urban population is set to nearly double by 2050.

Mr. Ban praised the invaluable role played by mayors and other local government leaders, in devising the New Urban Agenda.

Although national governments must play a strong role in devising legislation and policies to make cities grow sustainably in the future, it was local and regional leaders who would have to “implement these visions on the ground.”

Indeed, he said: “(You) must make the tough decisions on which issues to prioritise – because you have to manage budgets and balance sheets. You are accountable to national governments, and in many cases, to your local voters too (…). Your inputs into the New Urban Agenda were invaluable.”

The development Goals and also the commitment to curb carbon emissions made through the Paris Agreement on climate change last December, would be “under your direct leadership,” he told delegates in the main hall of Quito’s Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana.

“Take strong ownership of this vital agenda. Stand up for the people you represent,” he added.