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Desertification has now spread into northern Kenya, rainfall shortages in the past
year caused famine across various regions of the country, not to mention the past ElNino effects and the recent heat waves that were experienced by all. And now the
ongoing torrential rainfall is set to damage the crops of many farmers. All a result of
climate change.
Women and girls, caught in a small sandstorm, fetch water in Wajir, Kenya.
[Photo Credit: www.theatlantic.com ]
Science clearly shows that there is a strong correlation between the emission of
green-house gases through the burning of fossil fuels and the average rise in global
temperature. These emissions of green-house gases are largely, if not entirely, the
result of human activity.
Many may say – especially in Africa – that climate change is the enemy from above.
We get seasonal rains that water our crops from the clouds in the sky and when the
rains fail as they have been over the past couple years, we instinctively look up.
Agriculture is an important aspect of the livelihoods of the Kenyan people and the
African continent. 70% of Africans are farmers, 1/3rd of the continents income is
generated through agriculture; 95% of which are rain fed crops, so when the rains
fail, as a result of the impacts of climate change, we have no choice but to look up.
But I would like to suggest something different, especially to the people of my home
country; the enemy in truth does not stand above but rather, lies beneath.
Fossil fuels as we all know are the non-renewable energy resources which include oil,
coal and natural gas. This energy or carbon store was formed when prehistoric plants
and animals died and were gradually buried by layers of rock; over millions of years.
In the past 100years, the burning of fossil fuels has caused the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to increase drastically. Currently, 30 billion tons of
Carbon Dioxide is released into the atmosphere every year. The amount of Carbon
emitted and the rate at which it is being released, needless to say, is alarming. But
despite how complicated climate science and global climate negotiations may seem
to the average reader, the ultimate solution to the climate problem really is very
simple; Break Free From Fossil Fuels!
Crude oil was first discovered in the northern part of Kenya in the year 2012. Today
our newspaper headlines constantly read in bold: ‘Kenya may begin exporting one
billion barrels of oil by September’, ‘Kenya set to join Leagues of Oil Exporters’, while
one month ago it was estimated that Kenya’s oil deposits can run her for 300 years!
Indeed these prospects sound breathe taking but sadly, they literally are breathe
taking in reality.
Men working in oil rig after oil was discovered in northern Kenya.
[Photo Credit: www.oilnewskenya.com and www.theeastafrican.co.ke ]
If we, as a nation, exploit our fossil fuel resources, we will in turn add to the effects
of climate change even in our own country. Our carbon emissions will soon translate
to even warmer temperatures and less rainfall and agricultural produce. It is not
logical to drown the cries of millions of farmers who live off their next harvest, in
crude oil. We may look at the history of the industrial revolution and conclude that
the only route to economic development and advancement is through the
exploitation of our fossil fuels but this is far from the truth. Renewable sources of
energy; solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric power provide an alternate route
to economic development that is far less dangerous. It may seem hard to believe
that renewable energy can match the benefits that non-renewable energy offers, but
before you resort to any preconceived opinions that you may have, I ask that you
consider the following facts and statistics.
Wind power is the fastest growing energy source in the world since 1990 is currently
taking root in Kenya.
Kenya was the first African country to tap geothermal energy from which she earns a
net profit of KSH 11.5billion per annum from only one power plant.
Africa harbours the largest hydroelectric power plant in Egypt’s Aswan Dam, and yet
the World Bank estimates that only 7 to 8% of Africa’s hydroelectric power potential
is currently utilised.
Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource in the world, but the beauty with
Kenya is; unlike many other countries that experiences different seasons, the sun
rises and sets 365 days in a year, which simply means that we are a nation that has a
constant guarantee of energy and yet this resource remains untapped.
Potential of renewable energy in Kenya.
[Photo Credit: www.venturesafrica.com ]
Despite all these shocking statistics, 80% of Africa’s electricity is still generated from
fossil fuels but many have conclude that, with the right infrastructure, 50% of
electricity generated in Southern and Eastern Africa can be obtained from renewable
sources of energy by 2030. And so I ask; is the use of fossil fuels really necessary at
the expenses of agriculture?
A smallholder farmer working a maize field in the district of Embu, Kenya.
[Photo Credit: www.dw.com ]
A wise man once said; when the rivers are all dried up and the trees cut down, man
will then realise that he cannot eat money.
Africa’s land is the epicentre of natural resources that offer tremendous energy
potential, majority of which surprisingly remain untapped. I believe that this
situation still can be redirected.
Aside from this, many have rightfully argued that the historic responsibility of carbon
emission lies with the Western countries and that they should take responsibility
through Climate Finance and be the only nations to reduce their levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Now although more developed nations are chiefly responsible
for the changes in climate we face today, the impacts will be felt by all. Drought,
famine, floods, decreased rainfall, extreme weather conditions, spread of disease,
loss of animal and plant species, melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea level, increase in
average global temperature, you name it, climate change remains a global
phenomenon with a global impact, so a global response will only suffice to address
this global issue.
It has often been repeated that our generation is the first one to experience the
impacts of climate change, but what we largely do not seem to realise is that our
generation is also the last generation that can do something about it, only if we
break free from fossil fuels.