CS Barasa engages with Carbon Project Developers to Strengthen Kenya’s Carbon Markets

Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah M. Barasa convened a strategic meeting with Carbon Project Developers at a Nairobi hotel to discuss the future of Kenya’s carbon market. The meeting focused on strengthening regulatory frameworks, safeguarding market integrity, and maximizing community benefits from carbon projects.

The CS underscored the transformative role of carbon markets in achieving low-carbon and climate-resilient development that offers a mechanism which can channel climate finance, incentivize sustainable practices, and unlock new streams of revenue for communities, businesses, and government. “Beyond the economics, carbon markets offer a way to reimagine development, where environmental sustainability and economic prosperity go hand in hand,” she said.

The CS reiterated the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for carbon project development, one that is predictable, fair, and aligned with both the national priorities and international climate obligations.

Previously, in collaboration with stakeholders, the Ministry has strengthened policy and, regulatory frameworks, ensuring Kenya maintains a leading position in the global carbon markets. Such regulation includes the Climate Change Act of 2016, which was amended in 2023 to include specific provisions for carbon markets, authorizing trade in carbon credits through bilateral/multilateral agreements, private entity agreements, and participation in voluntary carbon markets.

Reinforcing this is the Carbon Markets Regulations, which outlines the technical and regulatory framework for carbon market participation in Kenya, clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of institutions overseeing carbon market activities.

Environment and Climate Change PS Dr. Eng. Festus K. Ng’eno on the other hand highlighted Kenya’s active participation in both the compliance and voluntary carbon markets since 2009. “Irrespective of the standard applied, our collective commitment must be to produce high-quality, high-integrity carbon credits. Core principles such as additionally, robust quantification, permanence, no leakage, environmental and social safeguards, avoidance of double counting, demonstrable SDG impacts, and validation and verification must be upheld”, he emphasized.

Further, Dr. Ng’eno outlined the government’s approach to carbon markets, which focuses on six principles: establishing an export-oriented industry, positioning Kenya as an investor-friendly destination, creating a high-integrity, high-quality carbon credit market, empowering the private sector, and leveraging carbon credits.

The meeting was attended by senior ministry officials including Environment Secretary Dr. Selly Kimosop, Secretary, Forest Development, Mr. George Tarus, Director Climate Change Dr. Pacifica Ogola, Dr. Nyatichi Omambia (DNA-NEMA), and carbon project developers from across the country.