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{
    "id": 332714,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/332714/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 162,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is universally accepted that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity this century. Studies have shown that about 90 per cent of all natural disasters afflicting the world today are related to severe weather and extreme climate change events. Impacts of the projected climate change are already affecting many sectors such as the environment, human health, food security, economic activities, natural resources and physical infrastructure. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in Kenya, the phenomenon is already intensifying at an alarming rate and is evident from the countryside that temperatures are increasing and rainfall irregularity and intensification is accelerating. These climate driven changes affect resources critically for economic development of Kenya. An example is that in 1999 and 2000, the La Nina drought left approximately 4.7 million Kenyans facing starvation. In addition, increased average temperatures have left the spread of vector borne diseases like malaria to areas where the disease is not known to be endemic. So, is Rift Valley Fever. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, one may ask: What are the causes of climate change? The simple answer is that it is the human daily social and economic activities. Climate has always varied naturally, but compelling evidence from around the world indicates that a new kind of climate change is under way. It is causing drastic impact on people, economies and ecosystems. Levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have risen steeply during the industrial era owing to human activities like fossil fuel use, deforestation and use of wood fuel spurred on by economic and population growth. Like a blanket around the planet, greenhouses gases trap heat energy on the earth’s lower atmosphere. If the levels rise high as it is happening, the resulting overall rise in the air temperatures leads to what is normally known as global warming, which is liable to disrupt natural patterns of climate. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, greenhouse emissions are continuing unabated. In future, the impacts of climate change are likely to worsen an already precarious situation. Since climate change is a global problem, it needs a global response that embraces the interests and needs of all countries. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has been crucial in addressing climate change and the need for reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases. The ultimate objective of the convention which has near universal membership is to stabilize greenhouse gases concentration in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Kyoto Protocol came in force in 2005. The protocol constitutes an important first step in the fight against global climate change by setting out specific binding emission reduction commitments. The treaty has meanwhile expounded an international carbon market that has brought about significant emission reduction and contributed to transfer of clean technologies from industrialized to developing countries. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in realization of this, our Government has taken a very positive step to enact a national climate change response strategy. This strategy was enacted in 2009. The vision of this strategy is for the prosperous and climate resilient Kenya. The mission is to strengthen and focus nationwide actions towards climate change adaption and greenhouse emission mitigation. This will be achieved by"
}