Kenya Climate Change Art & Essay Competition

Kenya Climate Change Art and Essay Competition Awards Ceremony Summary Notes

Hon. Mohamed Elmi, MBE, EGH, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Education with support from the USAID – UNDP funded Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development (LECRD) Project Awarded more than 150 young learners during the Kenya Climate Change Art and Essay Competition Awards Ceremony at Kenya Meteorological Department Headquarters in Dogoretti Corner, Nairobi on October 11, 2018.

The Awards Ceremony brought together more than 1000 young leaners from Private and Public Primary and Secondary Schools including Alternative Provision of Basic Education and Training (APBET) institutions in Nairobi County.

The 2018 competition theme was: Climate Change: Dream, Express, Act! The Kiswahili translation is Climate Change: Ota, Jieleze, Tenda!   The 2018 theme allowed young learners to think about their experiences on impacts of climate change as well as give them the opportunity to innovatively dream and express solutions for individual and communities action.

Tree Planting

The Kenya Climate Change Art and Essay Competition support the Ministry of Environment and Forestry National Tree Planting Exercise which is part of the Government’s strategic campaign to increase forest cover from 7.29 percent to 10 percent by the year 2022.

To demonstrate this, the invited guests including Hon. Mohamed Elmi the Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry; Mr. Ali Noor Ismail, CBS, Principal Secretary- Ministry of Environment and Forestry and representatives from Ministry of Education, Kenya Meteorological Department, Climate Change Directorate, UNDP, USAID and young learners planted trees at the Kenya Meteorological Department compound.

The LECRD Project, NETFUND, Kenya Meteorological Department, Kartasi Industries, Text Book Centre, Wildlife Clubs of Kenya, Funkidz among others exhibited their products and services showcasing different initiatives in the response to climate change with a focus on learners.

Remarks Mr. Fidelis Joseph Nakhulo, Deputy Director of the Department of Quality and Assurance, Ministry of Education

Mr. Nakhulo noted that the collaboration between the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Ministry of Education has enhanced synergy between the two Ministries. He noted that the effects of climate change do not discriminate and it affects all countries.

He appreciated the importance of sensitizing young learners on the effects of climate change early in life as it will make them grow up as responsive citizens. He noted that the Ministry of Education was playing an active role in climate change awareness through the inclusion of climate change matters in the on-going curriculum reforms

Main Speaker- Mr. Ali Noor Ismail, CBS, Principal Secretary- Ministry of Environment and Forestry

Mr. Ali Noor Ismail, CBS, Principal Secretary Ministry of Environment and Forestry noted that the competition accorded the young learners the opportunity to capture their imaginations and actions that they consider key towards addressing climate change issues. He noted that the County has prioritized the education of children on climate change in the second National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP 2018-2022). He said that the country will achieve that through concerted efforts with different stakeholders that include the Ministry of Education among others.

He said that creating awareness of climate change issues among children and youth, with a focus on having an enlightened younger population is pivotal to inculcating environmental stewardship.

Key Note Address – Hon. Mohamed Elmi, MBE, EGH, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry

Hon Elmi thanked young learners and other guests for gracing the occasion. He noted that their presence was an indication of their resolve to ensure environmental sustainability and securing the Country’s future. He said that children and young people represent the largest group of people currently affected by climate change.

He noted that the occasion brought different stakeholders together to appreciate and celebrate young learners understanding of climate change and plausible ways and means to improve their lives and secure their future.

Hon Elmi noted that climate change will be a core element in the National Education curricula as stipulated in the National Climate Change Framework Policy and the Climate Change Act, 2016. He said that exposure of young learners to climate change issues through formal education helps them to appreciate the associated dangers and the necessity of preserving our environment.