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President William Ruto yesterday challenged African courts to develop laws that will strengthen the battle against climate change.

The President who officially opened the regional symposium on the greening of Judiciaries in Africa noted that it was important for Africa to undertake concerted action to win the war on climate change.

Over 300 delegates including 27 Chief Justices from Africa are congregating in Nairobi for three days to discuss how best to deal with climate change in Africa.

The symposium, whose theme is “Strengthening the Role of Judiciaries in addressing Climate Change in Africa,” is the third to be held in Africa. The first two regional symposiums were held in Johannesburg and Mozambique respectively.

The President, who was the Chief Guest of the event, stated that necessary global responses to climate change are going to institute structural change noting that the event demonstrates, beyond any doubt, that African judiciaries have come of age.

The Head of State noted that although climate change is a universal existential threat, there is good reason for Africa’s institutions and leadership to drive the agenda of mitigating its effects and eliminating the human activities driving it.

 He noted that in December last year; he launched a national tree planting drive which aims to grow 15 billion trees by 2032.

“This will increase the national tree cover from the current 12.3 per cent to 30 per cent, which will be three times the constitutionally mandated minimum of 10 per cent,” he noted.

President Ruto noted that the development cannot be taken for granted because African judiciaries will determine whether Africa’s institutions exist and are ready to handle the immense mandates that a green future entails for us and the world.

“African livelihood, security and development is in danger and will remain at stake, unless we collectively wage aggressive combat to reverse the situation through policies and other institutional action to implement mitigation, enhance adaptation and build resilience,” noted the President.

Ruto noted that Africa is abundantly endowed with all the resources required to power green industrialisation as the clean and green power potential is incomparable. “Hydro, geothermal, wind and solar power potential is super abundant. The mineral resources needed by green energy technology also exist plentifully in Africa,” he noted.

Ruto urged the African judiciaries to insist quite firmly that international development financing must be more appropriate for the needs of our existential moment, in terms of accessibility, affordability and adequacy.

Amplify voices

“As a matter of national policy, Kenya has been involved in environmental diplomacy since the early years of our Republic…Today, we remain strongly committed to our national tradition of championing ecological responsibility throughout the world, starting locally,” he said.

The President urged the Chief Justices and other delegations to intensify their conscious place and take a decision to have their voices heard for the sake of current generations and the generations yet to be born.

“You are here to contribute a chapter to the world’s history. I encourage you to proceed and write a fresh chapter of African resilience, sustainability and global leadership, in a new, green industrial age,” said the President.

Chief Justice Martha Koome, who is the host of the event, noted that she viewed the three-in-one symposium on climate change as part of regional judicial dialogue aimed at providing a platform for African judges and judicial officers to exchange ideas, learn from each other and acquire the requisite knowledge, skills, and tools needed to effectively address the challenges facing our continent.

“Our people, our economies, and our natural resources are all at risk, as we grapple with the devastating consequences of rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and the loss of biodiversity,” she noted.

The CJ noted that African courts must play a decisive role in driving the adaptation, mitigation, and resilience-building efforts required to combat climate change and to secure a sustainable future for African people.

“I call upon all the Chief Justices and judges present here today to join hands in forging a united front against climate change, leveraging our collective wisdom and expertise to develop a jurisprudence that is uniquely African and responsive to our shared concerns,”she said.

Koome urged the delegates to seize the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to the cause of environmental justice, and to pledge their unwavering support for the efforts of their respective judiciaries in combating climate change.

Others who were in attendance are; two former CJs Willy Mutunga and David Maraga, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula and Nairobi Deputy Governor Njoroge Muchiri.