Kenya: Climate change is our shared problem

Environment   Sep 20, 2017 by Marlyn

Whenever we discuss climate change we discuss it as if its one specific groups fault or problem. For example those of my generation believing that since it was those before us who caused the problem, they should be the ones to fix it, or those who majorly contributed to this problem saying they wont be around for the catastrophic events that are to come. Same can be said with indigenous and non-indigenous communities. We all believe we are so different yet we are so damn alike looking at the big bad villain who is climate change in they eye. As I've countless times before we need to work together to solve this problem because we can't do it alone. It is our home; and the UN shares the same view.

On September 25^th 2015, countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all as a part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years. For the goals to be accomplished we all need to work together. Here are the sustainable development goals:

• SDG #1 – End poverty in all its forms everywhere
• SDG #2 – End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
• SDG #3 – Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
• SDG #4 - Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning
• SDG #5 – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• SDG #6 – Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
• SDG #7 – Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
• SDG #8 – Promote inclusive and sustainable economic f=growth, employment and decent work for all
• SDG #9 – Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
• SDG #10 – Reduce inequalities within and among countries
• SDG #11 – Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
• SDG #12 – Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
• SDG #13 – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• SDG #14 – Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
• SDG #15 – Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
• SDG #16 – Promote just peaceful and inclusive societies
• SDG #17 – Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

The topic of discussion for this forum is SDG #13 which mainly deals with climate change and its various effects. The targets that i believe are most relevant are:

• Integrate change measures into national policies and planning.
• Improve education, awareness-raising and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

The reason why I picked these two is because when I read them two statements come to mind, “preparing for the storm” and “educating the public”. Integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning insures that we are prepared for what is coming. WE need remember the damage we’ve done to our atmosphere cannot be fully undone. So even if we decide to change our habits now the storm shall still come. While it is critical to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, it is equally important that we adapt and prepare for climate change. The effects of climate change in extreme weather and the risks to life and property are already upon us.

“Education is an essential element of the global response to climate change. It helps young people understand and address the impact of climate change, encourages changes in their attitudes and behaviors and helps them adapt to climate change related trends.” According to the UNESCO site. In my opinion we can’t solve a problem we don’t know about; and we all need to know about it so we can work together. Through its Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development program, UNESCO aims to make climate change education more central and visible part of the international response to climate change. Program aims to help people understand the impact of climate change today and increase “climate literacy” among young people.

The targets respond to the challenges created by the effects of climate change in various ways. They hit all the target areas that shall help people by:

• Step 1: Helping countries adapt to climate change and be prepared for the effects to come such as floods, long droughts etc.
• Step 2: Educating the public on what is going on around them and the small things they can do to help the environment and why it matters so much, that it isnt the next generations problem.
• Step 3: Addresses the needs of developing nations with indigenous and non-indigenous communities by providing relief.

Personally i don't believe the issue of ocean acidification is being dealt with head on by any of these targets. Many food chains shall really be effected by this change which could cause fishing irregularities. Furthermore the countries that are currently lacking water such as Kenya due to weather irregularities aren't exactly helped. Countries need water, it is life.

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