A Green Economy

9. 1.0 OPENING REMARKS
The symposium begun with a brief
b a c k g r o u n d f r o m t h e m o d e r
a t o r
Mr.KevinOsido paving way to the
opening
remarks from the speakers.
1.1. Dr Mary Otieno, Coordinator, RCE
Greater Nairobi
She welcomed the participants to the
symposium and introduced the key
stakeholders, panelists and the RCE
Greater Nairobi members, especially
inviting new stakeholders to join the
network. She concluded by reminding
the
delegates that the symposium was
organized to achieve the following
objectives:
I To promote understanding of the
outcome of COP21 Agreement and
discusshow it can be actualized in
K e n y a i n c l u d i n g t h e 􀁄 n a n c i
a l
incentives available to implement the
agreement
ii To s h a re re s e a rc h a n d p ro j e c t
e x p e r i e n c e s a n d e s t a b l i s h
partnerships to address climate
change
iii To propose meaningful action plans
and strategies for collaboration to
provide climate-smart solutions
within greater Nairobi
iv To highlight the role of the youth in
addressing climate change
1.1 Prof. Paul Wainaina, the Acting Vice
Chancellor, Kenyatta University
He noted that many meetings have been held to
discuss climate change, notable
one being the COP21 where the Paris Agreement
- a historic climate accord committing countries
to reducing greenhouse gas emissions for the first
time in 20 years was reached.This symposium being
the first of its kind in Africa, presents an opportunity
to discuss what the Paris Agreement means at
a local level. For that reason, the symposium
must go beyond theorizing. The language used
to communicate climate change must resonate
with the people at the grassroots; the examples
articulated must be understandable by an ordinary
citizen.
1.0 OPENING REMARKS
The symposium begun with a brief background
from the moderator Mr. Kevin Osido paving way to
the opening remarks from the speakers.
Thereafter, a case of how the private sector is dealing with climate change issues was
shared by Sanda Ojiambo, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Safaricom.
Finally, a panel comprising of Nickson Otieno (WSCSD-Kenya), Dr. Dorcas Otieno (KOEE)
and Zipporah Musyoki (WWF) synthesised the symposium’s recommendations and way
forward.
1.2 Dr Mary Otieno, Coordinator, RCE
Greater Nairobi
She welcomed the participants to the symposium
and introduced the key stakeholders, panelists
and the RCE Greater Nairobi members, especially
He reported that Kenyatta University has a well
established environmental education program.
Despite the success of this program, he opined
that it must go beyond making students
environmentally literate. It must equip them with
relevant competences and capacities to under take
prac tical co n s e r v at i o n p ro j e c t s w i t h i n t h
e university and at the community level.
He urged the participants to strive to connect the
grassroots with the agenda of climate change.
Dr. Mary Otieno, RCE-GN Coordinator
Prof. Paul Wainanina, Acting VC, Kenyatta
University

10. Dr. Moses Rugut, CEO, NACOSTI
inviting new stakeholders to join the network. She
concluded by reminding the delegates that the
symposium was
organized to achieve the following objectives:
i. To promote understanding of the outcome
of COP21 Agreement and discusshow it
can be actualized in Kenya including the
financial incentives available to implement the
agreement
ii. To share research and project experiences
and establish partnerships to address climate
change
iii. To propose meaningful action plans and
strategies for collaboration to provide climate-
smart solutions within greater Nairobi
iv. To highlight the role of the youth in addressing
climate change
1.3 Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education,
Science and Technology (MoEST)
The Cabinet secretary was represented by D r. Mos
es R u g u t, C . E.O., National Commission for Science,
Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI).
Dr. Rugut begun by observing that half of the room
was late and implored the participants to keep time
next time. He reminded the participants that the
reality of climate change is already with us.
To respond to this reality, we need to adopt
renewable energies, conserve water towers and
undertake relevant research to monitor the status
of our environment and to develop appropriate
adaptation mechanisms such as applied research
to develop crop species that can withstand climate
variability.
He reaffirmed the importance of science
and technology in achieving the Sustainable
DevelopmentGoals(SDGs)andtheParisAgreement.
Accelerating, encouraging and enabling innovation
is critical for an exective, long-term global r e s p o
n s e t o c l i m a t e c h a n g e a n d p ro m o t i n g e
co n o m i c grow t h and sustainable development.
He emphasized the need for an enhanced enabling
environment for addressing the barriers to
the development and transfers of socially and
environmentally sounds technologies.
He also underscored the need for retraining of
teachers through online and part-time programs
to enable them contribute exectively to the
current learning needs. He urged the participants
to come up with candid recommendations for
mainstreaming climate change and