Climate change

The Kenyan government has embarked on rapid development of renewable energy in order to reduce green house gas emissions known to cause global warming resulting in climate change, Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said.

The premier is however urging the developed economies to help developing nations to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Speaking during the opening of a Climate Change workshop dubbed, "Climate Change: A Common Challenge" Raila said climate change has presented itself in the form of extreme weather events.

"Scientific evidence shows that the ice caps in Greenland are melting, there is sufficient evidence that the ice caps on Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya will soon disappear, already Mt Kilimanjaro has lost 80 per cent of its ice between 1912 and 2000, this is a serious challenge," said the Prime Minister.

He called on the international community to develop a marshal plan that will give developing economies the requisite funds to invest in green energy production technologies in their respective countries.

The PM said Kenya is going to Copenhagen with a clear strategy on what the international community should do for Africa and Kenya in order to mitigate the serious effects of the global challenge.

"We need to have clear ways of tapping rainwater, to deal with severe flooding and droughts and to ensure that the challenges of increased vector borne diseases on account of rising temperatures in the once cold highlands is tamed," said Raila.

Crown Princes Victoria of Sweden added voice to the debate calling on world leaders to show leadership in dealing with the challenges of climate change.

She said the recent devastating drought and now flooding should be a wake up call that indeed matters are not right for the developing economies.

Swedish Ambassador Ann Dismorr urged world leaders to help the developing countries to deal with the challenges caused by global warming noting that most of the countries now remain vulnerable in the face of climate change.