Prioritising mitigation and adaptation options as part of the development of a National Climate Change Action Plan
Throughout 2011-12 the government of Kenya undertook a prioritisation process to identify actions to deliver its National Climate Change Response Strategy published in 2010. The process resulted in the Kenyan National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) and included specific mitigation and adaptation challenges to be incorporated into the climate related policies, plans and strategies of national institutions in Kenya.
The prioritisation process within the NCCAP was aligned to national development strategies combining a long-term vision with medium-term policy goals and mechanisms. It demonstrates an effective process for incorporating assessments of climate vulnerability and mitigation potential into national development objectives in an inclusive multi-stakeholder decision-making process.
Crucial to the success of the process was the strong commitment and leadership from the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources (MEMR), comprehensive stakeholder participation, the involvement of key ministries, together with a local validation process and a transparent approach to analysis.
- Developing an evidence base: The prioritisation process of the NCCAP provides the Kenyan government with an evidence base to target policy development for climate resilient development. The outcomes of the prioritisation process not only stem from quantitative top-down and bottom-up analysis, but also inclusive and extensive consultation within government ministries, Kenyan experts, county representatives and the private sector. This provides additional confidence that the identified priorities are most relevant and appropriate for the country.
- Developing NAMAs: The priority mitigation actions have helped the Kenyan government in developing Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) in certain sectors. For example, Kenya has recently submitted a NAMA proposal to the UNFCCC on accelerating geothermal energy development, one of the priority mitigation options identified in the NCCAP. Utilising the baseline reference scenarios created within the NCCAP provides an excellent basis to develop further NAMA proposals in other sectors. Kenya has also been selected as a country to received support for the development of three NAMA proposals through the UNDP Low Emission Capacity Building (LECB) programme.
- Engagement of local expertise: It is noted that the extensive engagement of Kenyan experts has played an important role in building the awareness and understanding of low-carbon development and the opportunities available in various sectors. Local experts noted that the process helped to change mindsets by introducing new concepts and creating awareness of new opportunities that could emerge by adopting a low-carbon development path (GOK, 2012).
- Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources
- Ministry of Energy
- Ministry of Northern Kenya Development and other Arid Lands
- Ministry of Agriculture
- Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
- Ministry of Livestock Development
- Ministry of Water and Irrigation
- Ministry of Public Health
- Ministry of Housing
- Kenya Roads Board
- Ministry of Tourism
- Ministry of Energy
- Ministry of Planning, Threshold 21 (T21) team
- Private sector; Kenyatta University (School of Environmental Studies)
- Nairobi University (Meteorological Department)
- Catholic Organisation of Relief and Development (CORDAID)
- The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
- Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)
- CARE Kenya
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)