Nairobi: As the country joins the international community in marking the 2026 World Environment Day, Kenya has renewed its call for strategic efforts towards addressing the impact of climate change. Briefing the media in his office at the SHA building, Environment and Climate Change Principal Secretary (PS), Dr Eng. Festus Ng'eno, said this year's event presents an opportunity for Kenyans to reflect, make informed decisions, and take collective action to address escalating effects of climate change.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr Ng'eno highlighted the triple planetary crisis identified by the United Nations Environment Programme: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. He noted that these interconnected, human-driven challenges are accelerating rapidly and represent some of the most complex problems facing this generation.
Dr Ng'eno pointed out that scientific evidence in Kenya underscores the severity of climate change and stressed the need for urgent action to keep global warming within the goals of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius. Kenya's latest State of Climate Change Report indicates that national temperatures have risen by approximately 0.88 degrees Celsius since 1960, with recent years being among the hottest on record.
He emphasized the impact of climate change in arid and semi-arid regions, such as Turkana County, where temperatures have exceeded 41 degrees Celsius, imposing immense pressure on communities, ecosystems, and livelihoods. Evidence from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) shows that climate change is driving severe losses in biodiversity, water resources, and food systems, with risks projected to double for every 0.5-degree Celsius increase in global temperatures.
The National Celebration in Kenya took place at the Ol-Kalou Arboretum in Nyandarua County, chosen for its ecological significance, particularly Lake Ol Bolossat, a critical wetland ecosystem and bird habitat. Globally, the World Environment Day celebration is being held in Azerbaijan, where nations will discuss environmental challenges and climate solutions.
This year's theme, 'Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,' calls for collective action to address the interconnected global crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Dr Ng'eno commended the government's national tree-planting initiative targeting 15 billion trees by 2030, with approximately 1.7 billion trees already planted.
He expressed concern over rising water levels across Rift Valley lakes and urged Kenyans to intensify tree-growing efforts, warning that environmental degradation is driving climate-related impacts. The Principal Secretary cited threats at lakes Baringo, Bogoria, Nakuru, and Naivasha, where flooding has displaced communities, submerged infrastructure, and altered ecosystems.
Dr Ng'eno highlighted the contributions of poor land-use practices to sediment accumulation in lakes and rivers, increasing flood risks. He warned against farming along riparian and water catchment areas, noting that pollutants from farms affect water quality and ecosystem health.
He stressed the importance of forest restoration as an effective natural solution for climate mitigation and adaptation, with healthy forests absorbing carbon emissions, regulating water cycles, and supporting biodiversity. He cited the Mau Forest Complex as a critical water tower requiring restoration to prevent disruptions in river flow patterns affecting ecosystems downstream.
Dr Ng'eno called for a whole-of-society approach, urging citizens, businesses, communities, and development partners to actively participate in environmental conservation efforts. He emphasized that increasing forest and tree cover is essential for mitigating climate change and securing Kenya's future.