By Diana Wenwa
This morning, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, Soipan Tuya, hosted the French Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Arnaud Suquet, to discuss the progress of ongoing bilateral and multilateral initiatives between Kenya and France.
The meeting also aimed to explore new partnership opportunities, including support for modernizing Kenya’s meteorological services.
CS Tuya was joined virtually by the Ministry’s Climate Change Director, Dr. Pacifica Ogolla. The meeting highlighted the strong and longstanding cooperation between Kenya and France in climate action.
Recent milestones in the Kenya-France partnership include the ongoing rollout of a forest fire suppression and communication initiative, which is supported by the French government.
This initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance Kenya’s capability to manage and mitigate forest fires, a crucial step in preserving the country’s forest cover and biodiversity.
Another notable collaboration is the International Tax Task Force (ITTF), co-chaired by Kenya, France, and Barbados. Launched at COP28 in Dubai last year, the ITTF aims to explore feasible, scalable, and sensible climate levies.
This initiative is a testament to the strong ties between Nairobi and Paris and their commitment to addressing global climate challenges through innovative financial mechanisms.
The discussions between CS Tuya and Ambassador Suquet are expected to further strengthen the relationship between Kenya and France, paving the way for more collaborative efforts in climate action and other areas of mutual interest. The modernization of Kenya’s meteorological services, in particular, is seen as a critical area for future cooperation, enhancing the country’s ability to predict and respond to climate-related events.
The continued partnership between Kenya and France highlights the importance of international cooperation in tackling climate change and fostering sustainable development.