Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Hon. Soipan Tuya, has today, launched a fleet of electric cars introduced to the market by Trademark hotel for guest transfers.
Environment-friendly vehicles do not emit pollutants through fossil fuels like petrol and diesel, but rather ensure that cars use electricity-charged batteries, each being more efficient and eco-friendly.
During the launch, the CS said that
Kenyans are exposed to many natural hazards due to climate change, the most common being floods and droughts.
“Drought cycles are now recurring every 2–3 years instead of the previous 5–10 years. These floods and droughts have large socio-economic impacts and high economic costs, which now are increasing in frequency and intensity”, the CS added.
Further, the CS noted that to reduce the impact of climate change at the national level, Kenya submitted an updated and enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions(NDC) on the 28th of December 2020.
The Updated NDC commits to 32% emission reduction against the Business As Usual scenario by 2030, in line with the sustainable development agenda and national circumstances.
The total cost of implementing mitigation and adaptation actions in the Updated NDC Hon. Tuya said is estimated at USD 62 Billion.
“The Government of Kenya has also developed a draft Long-term Greenhouse Gas Emissions and resilience Strategy for 2050, which outlines specific actions that will be required of us to achieve these commitments”, added the CS.
Currently, the Kenya transport sector accounts for over 13% of the country’s total GHG emissions.
The high potential mitigation action includes the increase in the uptake of electric mobility in the country. At the global level, Kenya supports the acceleration of the transition to zero-emission Vehicles (ZEV) to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement with appropriate support from the Developed Countries.
There are several measures at the national level that have so far been taken up, to stimulate the uptake of electric mobility in Kenya.
THE CS congratulated the Tribe Hotel Group and Village Market Group for setting the pace in this initiative,
“I would like to encourage all hotels and other commercial entities with a large fleet of vehicles (especially private schools) and motorcycles operators to consider these investments. Such investments will not only reduce our carbon footprints, improve the health of workers and clients, but also result in huge saving in terms of imported fuelcosts”, she said.
The function was also attended by the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Foreign Affairs Dr. Korir Sing”oei, and Dr. Manish Shah the Group Executive Chairman of Village Market among others.
