The President of the Summit ,

The Speaker of the National Assembly,

Your Excellencies,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to be here to officially open this important summit under the theme ‘Towards a Common Position on Climate Change’.

I take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to the Pan African Parliamentarians’ Network on Climate Change, the Kenya National Assembly and other sponsors for organizing and providing the necessary support for this forum. On behalf of the Kenyan people, I welcome you all and wish you fruitful deliberations.

Distinguished delegates

You are all aware of the lobbying taking place worldwide ahead of the December Copenhagen, summit. At Copenhagen we expect to undertake negotiations that will culminate in a new global climate deal to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol which expires in TWENTY TWELVE.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The world today, more than ever is faced with challenges attributable to climate change. The ability of countries to mitigate the climate change effects is largely dependent on mechanisms that they have put in place to address likely impacts of the climate change. It is for this reason that climate change has become important political, economic and social issue worldwide. African States should be able to monitor the driving forces, pressure and impacts of climate change in order to develop appropriate response measures.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The climate change will increase vulnerability of an already stressed African Continent. The impacts of climate change already experience by African countries include floods, increased frequency and severity droughts, increased incidences of human and livestock diseases, food and water insecurity, and dust and sand storms. The impact of climate change is mainly greatest on environment, agriculture, health, water, infrastructure and energy sectors. It has been projected that agricultural production and food security in many African countries and regions are likely to be severely compromised by climate change and climate variability. In addition, global warming is likely to increase incidences of diseases and pests associated with high temperatures.

The continent is ill prepared for the impacts of climate change. As a result of poverty and inadequate policies and legal frameworks, we have continued to exert pressure on resources that could have cushioned us from these effects. In addition the continent’s forests have been under pressure as a result of the demand from cultivable land, timber, industries and fuel wood. The effects of deforestation often are not confined to a country but would have cross-border impact. There is therefore need for partnerships and collaboration among countries in order to address the enormous task of saving mankind and the world’s flora and fauna.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Industrial development and carbon emissions are related. The developing countries with 80% of world’s population still account for only 20% of the cumulative greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this, the effects of climate change are most severe in the developing countries due to limited capacities to deal with the situation. As a result, those responsible for the greatest greenhouse gas emissions should take the issue of equity even more seriously and ponder over a Post-Kyoto regime which will be both equitable and readily implementable.

Considering the importance of climate change, it is necessary that appropriate policies, laws and strategies are developed by the countries of the world. Domestication of the multi-national environmental agreements requires collaboration and partnerships among government relevant ministries, parliament, scientists and civil society for just and sustainable environment.

As a continent, we should be fully involved in the climate debate and negotiations aimed at agreements to give us a fair and just deal that caters for our interests and needs. The outcome of this parliamentary forum will be expected to strengthen African position on climate change in preparation for the Conference of Parties to be held in Copenhagen in December this year.

Ladies and gentlemen,

To a large extent climate change is man-made; subsequently the solutions to deal with the challenge rest on our human response. We have a shared responsibility to minimize the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere by our individual countries. As Governments and as individuals, reducing carbon emissions through our policies and our daily actions is not a matter of choice; it is but an obligation. Achieving an equitable, effective and sustainable deal should be the goal of our efforts. Subsequently, the industrialized countries should make rapid cuts in their greenhouse gas output, while developing countries should control their rising fossil fuel use. There are also opportunities available for developing countries to gain from shifting to lower-carbon output without compromising development from the Clean Development Mechanisms. This can be done when the developed countries take up their responsibility and provide new and predictable financial support to developing countries to enable them get access to climate-friendly technologies.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

In Kenya , we have all along been concerned with climate change and how it impacts negatively on the economy and vulnerable populations, especially in Arid and Semi Arid Areas. We have put in place measures to pursue a sustainable natural resource development in order to reduce poverty, abate continued environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources and implement sustainable monitoring of weather and climate patterns. A Climate Change and Coordination Unit has also been established at the Prime Minister’s Office to deal with high-level political coordination of climate and environmental change, mainly through mainstreaming into the broad political and development agenda. In addition we have developed a forest master plan to restore degraded forest cover and quality of the environment. This will cover all the five major water towers in the country.

To enhance the supply of environmentally friendly and affordable energy in the country, the government is investing in the development of renewable energy technologies such as geothermal, solar-based, bio-fuels and wind technologies. These energy sources are expected to reduce over-dependence on fossil fuels which has impacted negatively on the environment through release of substantial amounts of greenhouse emissions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As Parliamentarians gathered here, you have an obligation to lead the crusade against actions that lead to adverse climatic change and threaten conditions the quality of life. You have legitimacy to enact policies and laws aimed at ensuring a safe, healthy and sustainable natural environment that serves the needs of humanity as a whole. You should push for a global policy change, based on rebuilding the damaged ecosystems and communities.

I am aware that the path to greener world is not easy but we must soldier on. We must take aggressive initiatives to provide for the reduction of greenhouse gases and domestication of international and regional convention and protocols on climate change. I urge you in your capacity as political leaders to accept more responsibility in combating global problems associated with climate change. We count on your support, as success requires cooperation, networking and participation from all stakeholders.

We need to work together as one and I have faith we can define our agenda and destiny as we prepare for Copenhagen. Once again I wish you fruitful deliberations as you embark on getting a united, common position for Africa in Copenhagen.

With these remarks, I declare this summit officially open.

Thank you and God Bless You All.