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Governor Johnson Sakaja Advancing green growth and climate finance solutions for Africa and the world discussed during the pre-summit of the Africa Climate Summit, [Mactilda Mbenywe, Standard]
Nairobi’s City Hall is set to become the first green government building in Africa.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja made the remarks at the Pre-Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi while pledging to boost green building and job creation.
Green construction is a building approach that focuses on creating structures and spaces in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner, using materials, designs and practices that minimize negative impact on the environment, conserve resources and increase energy efficiency. promote.
During his address, Governor Sakaja emphasized on the importance of sustainable construction and environmental awareness.
He announced, “We are reducing the fee for green architecture and making it mandatory to consider certain aspects. We are currently renovating nine properties in Nairobi, providing 40,000 housing units. Making sure energy-saving fixtures, water-saving fixtures, stormwater drainage and environmental protection features are a must.”
In terms of job creation, Sakaja said, “In the last 12 months that I have been in office, we have directly created 6,000 green jobs, with a ripple effect that created approximately 300,000 additional jobs and opportunities.”
Sakaja also outlined his administration’s commitment to reducing emissions by sourcing food locally for the city’s school meals program.
“One of our climate action plans is protecting our vulnerable communities, especially children. If they have nothing in their stomach, they have nothing in their mind. We have set up Africa’s largest school to address this issue. Feeding program has been started.
Governor Sakaja’s vision extends to transforming Nairobi into a city of dignity and positive change. He stressed the need to make construction compliant with climate standards and measure emissions and air quality across the city.
He announced, “We have completed our preliminary assessment in our office, which we intend to certify as the first green government building in Africa. City Hall is going to be a green government building. I believe that if we intend to build greener and more resilient buildings in our cities we need to lead by example.”
With an aim to encourage green building practices, Sakaja assures architects and developers of the same. “Incentives and opportunities will be given by the government for green buildings. We need to make this transition practical and affordable,” he added.
Governor Sakaja also stressed the importance of educating and exporting green building skills to ensure youth are well equipped for the industry.
“We cannot allow concrete jungles in our city; there should be green space. Our development control rules will include provisions for this,” he said.
Other speakers stressed the urgency of addressing climate change in Africa, with Professor Anthony Nyong, director of climate change and green development at the African Development Bank, saying there was a need to commit 67 per cent of the continent’s resources to the construction of climate-resilient buildings. Is.
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He said on climate change in Africa, no single organization can solve this problem alone. He revealed that in the past two years countries have committed 40-45 per cent of their funds to climate finance, meaning that around US$10 billion is spent to address climate change emissions.
“When considering the challenges posed by climate change, it is clear that Africa bears the brunt of its effects. This trend must be reversed. We have solutions, and together we will tackle the issue of climate change.”
Dr. John Chuma, Chief Executive Officer in the Office of Kenya’s First Lady Rachel Ruto, stressed the need for climate action to protect vulnerable groups, especially women, youth and children. He commended Kenya’s initiatives, such as the Rachel Ruto Initiative, that empower women through women-led groups and programs.
He stressed efforts to unite climate, carbon and sustainable engagement to build green and resilient cities for a better Africa, which is timely as the continent grapples with rapid urbanisation.
Dr. Sheila Ochugboju, Executive Director of the Alliance for Science, stressed the critical importance of adopting green building and urban development strategies in Africa to address the challenges of climate change.
He said, “Green buildings and cities in Africa represent an opportunity not only to mitigate the effects of climate change, but also to pave the way for sustainable urban development. We have the knowledge and the technology; now we need the commitment.” Needed.”
Ochugboju outlined the wider social benefits of green building and urban planning, emphasizing their role in ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for African communities.
Source: www.bing.com
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