Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 572703,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/572703/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 271,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "July 28th, 2015 SENATE DEBATES 27 The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki): Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, nevertheless, I will be brief. I do not intend to take more than 15 minutes. I beg to move that the Climate Change Bill (National Assembly Bill No.1 of 2014) be read a Second Time. The Long Title of this Bill is described as an Act of Parliament to provide for a regulatory framework for enhanced response to climate change to provide for a mechanism and measures to achieve low carbon climate development and for connected purposes. This Bill is about climate change, which as we know, is a phenomenon that has affected the world’s environment in the last 50 years or so. According to the available scientific data, the challenge of climate change affects much more drastically developing, and more so, poor countries for reasons which I will explain and are contained in this Bill. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with this Bill, our country Kenya is trying to come to the realization that there is need to put in place mechanisms to ensure that the adverse effects of climate change do not wipe out the gains that we have made in the protection and preservation of our environment and in the growth of key sectors of our economy, including agriculture and land. For starters, climate change is a phenomenon which has been defined in this Bill. It is defined as change in climatic systems caused by significant changes in the concentration of greenhouse gases as a result of what one will call anthropogenic changes. It is about the permanent and long term changes in the world’s environment as a result of human activities. I am emphasizing “human activities” because scientists tell us that there are aspects of climate change that are caused by natural factors. Naturally induced climate change is not harmful. So, often, the climatic conditions of the world change as a result of natural factors. There is that change which leads to renewal and a bit of interference with the human, plant and animal life. However, what is harmful is anthropogenic climate change or climate change that has been induced by human activities. The biggest cause or contributor of human induced climate change is the emission of a certain cadre of gases into the atmosphere; the greenhouse gases. The emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as a result of human activities is what causes climate change. Of these greenhouse gases, the biggest contributor to the climate change is carbon dioxide. Of course, there are other greenhouse gases. They are listed in the Bill, for example, methane which can come from certain sources, including agricultural and livestock production. Other gases are, for instance, nitrous acid, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur, hexafluoride, and indirect greenhouse gases. However, out of this list of seven or so gases, carbon dioxide is responsible for most of the climate change effects. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}