Kenya has become the second African nation to sign a Letter of Intent (LOI) to supply high-integrity emissions reductions and removals credits to the LEAF Coalition. The East African country follows Ghana in pioneering progress to reduce deforestation with the support of LEAF.
The agreement was signed between the Kenyan Government and Emergent, the administrative coordinator of The LEAF Coalition. It demonstrates the commitment of both parties to progress negotiations toward a binding Emissions Reductions Purchase Agreement (ERPA) and signals significant progress for LEAF in Africa. The LEAF Coalition is a public-private initiative that will pay forest countries and states to reduce emissions through jurisdictional REDD+ programs.
Kenya has an estimated 3.6 million ha of forest and 24.5 million ha of bushland. According to the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility figures, the country loses about 12,000 ha of forest annually.
The LOI with LEAF complements Kenya’s ambitious plans to tackle deforestation and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2021, the Kenyan government announced it had a national REDD+ strategy, a comprehensive framework for safeguards, active multi-stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building programs.
The country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commits to reducing GHG emissions by 32% by 2033, and last year, Kenya committed to planting 15 billion trees to achieve 30% tree cover by 2032.
‘This Letter of Intent (LOI) with the LEAF Coalition is in line with the Government of Kenya’s determination to mobilize climate finance to support forestry development, climate change response, and land restoration goals. We look forward to the Forestry sector as a significant source of development capital. The 15 billion National Tree Growing and Restoration Campaign, recently launched by the Government, presents a big opportunity for the country to accelerate and enhance Kenya’s efforts to reduce emissions from the forestry sector and address barriers to new afforestation programs. As a government, we are delighted with this opportunity and look forward to implementing the next steps towards signing the Emissions Reduction Purchase Agreement.’ Hon Soipan Tuya, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry.
‘This agreement triggers the start of negotiations that will enable the people and government of Kenya to unlock a significant new source of finance for preserving their forests, protecting biodiversity, and supporting sustainable development.’ Said Eron Bloomgarden, CEO of Emergent. ‘This is an important first step to a transaction between LEAF buyers and Kenya that can support the country’s work to achieve its climate goals. We look forward
to working closely with the Kenyan government to progress towards a final agreement over the coming months.’
‘With the signing of this agreement, more efforts are required to finalize key REDD+ readiness elements and associated work streams that will ensure a well-coordinated and structured multi-stakeholder approach to REDD+ implementation in Kenya and access to the carbon markets. It is a catalytic step that will create momentum for the government to fight climate change by reducing emissions from the forest sector by addressing the drivers of
deforestation and forest degradation while attracting the much-needed climate finance,’ Psamson Nzioki – Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ Manager, Conservation International.
The LOI with Kenya is the 10th Emergent signed with forest governments on behalf of the LEAF Coalition, following those with Ghana, Nepal, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Vietnam, and four Brazilian states: Amapá, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, and Pará.
The LEAF Coalition ensures the highest environmental and social integrity by only purchasing emissions reduction credits verified and issued by ART, following its TREES Standard for jurisdictional REDD+ emission reductions and removals. Each credit represents one tonne of CO2 equivalent reduced or removed as a result of activities to tackle
deforestation or conserve forests.