NAIROBI — Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has warned that worsening environmental conditions are threatening Africa’s poverty reduction goals and long-term development plans.
Speaking Tuesday at the opening of the 20th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) in Nairobi, Mudavadi said the growing intensity of climate-related disasters droughts, floods, disease outbreaks, and food insecurity has become a direct threat to the continent’s future.
“These environmental challenges are not distant risks they are here, and they are already reversing the gains we’ve made in fighting poverty and promoting sustainable growth,” Mudavadi told delegates at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters.
The session, themed “Four Decades of Environmental Action in Africa: Reflecting on the Past and Imagining the Future,” drew ministers and climate officials from across the continent.
Citing a recent report by the World Meteorological Organization, Mudavadi noted that average global temperatures in 2024 surpassed the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels, an international benchmark for climate safety.
“This alarming trend underscores the inadequacy of current global efforts to combat climate change,” he said.
He also referenced a United Nations assessment warning that one million species are at risk of extinction, blaming the crisis on unsustainable exploitation of land, water, and energy. “This is not just about biodiversity it’s about human survival,” Mudavadi stated.
Kenya, he said, has made significant progress in reducing pollution and transitioning toward a green economy. He highlighted that over 90% of Kenya’s electricity now comes from renewable sources and reaffirmed the government’s strict ban on plastic carrier bags, which has been in effect since 2017.
“We took a bold step to fight plastic pollution. Today, plastic carrier bags are banned across the country, and enforcement continues,” Mudavadi said. “We are also protecting biodiversity through our parks, reserves, and marine ecosystems.”
Mudavadi welcomed the recent international recognition of Nairobi as the interim host of the new Science-Policy Panel Secretariat, a global body designed to support environmental decision-making. He called for the full consolidation of UNEP’s headquarters in Nairobi as reaffirmed at the Rio+20 Conference in 2012.
“Nairobi’s role as a global environmental hub must be fully anchored. It’s time to move from symbolic declarations to structural implementation,” he urged.
The AMCEN summit continues through the week, with focus areas including climate finance, nature-based solutions, and coordination ahead of COP30. Mudavadi’s remarks add to a growing call for more urgent and equitable climate action across the Global South.
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