Background

The Pan African Vision spelt out in Agenda 2063 is to attain an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena. Attainment of this Vision is threatened by the impacts of climate change unless concerted efforts are made to adapt and mitigate to its effects. This is despite Africa’s negligible contribution to the changing climate, with just about three percent of global emissions, Africa stands out disproportionately as the most vulnerable region in the world.

The continent is anticipated to suffer more due to climate change due to low level of preparedness, inadequate information, weak economies and over-reliance of agriculture and climate dependent crops. Some of the already devastating impacts in Africa include prolonged drought, locust invasion, severe floods, delay in the onset of long rains among others. This is despite Africa having contributed the least to the greenhouse gases that are causing climate change. Short-lived climate pollutants have become a key aspect in Kenyan public discourse, facilitating discussions while at the same time being a key subject of scholarly, socio-cultural, economic, environmental and political debates.

The Black carbon, Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), tropospheric ozone and methane are a group of short-lived climate pollutants which together account for between 40-45% of global warming. Fast mitigation of SLCP’s, in conjunction with the global reduction of carbon emissions, is therefore critical for slowing the rate of climate change in the coming decades and for protecting the people and regions most vulnerable to near-term climate impacts. A rapid phasedown of these SLCP’s has the potential to cut the current rate of global warming by 0.50C and may offer the best chance of protection in the short-term for those countries most vulnerable to climate change, the vast majority of who are poor countries in the Global South.

Resolving key uncertainties in the Short-Lived Climate Pollutants cycle will help meet the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature goal of “holding warming to below 2°C and accelerating efforts to 1.5°C to sustain it”. Essential for better clarity on the mitigations to be achieved. “That is to limit the impacts of dangerous climate change. There is therefore an urgent need to provide useful constraints to support policymaking.