By Abbas Nazil
Youth leaders across Kenya have called on the government to increase funding for climate change adaptation efforts, warning that insufficient financing could undermine the country’s ability to mitigate and respond to the worsening effects of climate change.
Speaking in Naivasha during a consultative meeting on youth-led climate interventions, Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) representative Lucy Ngandu emphasized that the lack of adequate budgetary allocation remains one of the biggest barriers to effective climate action.
She urged the government to invest more resources in environmental conservation, especially following the withdrawal of donor funding that previously supported many local initiatives.
Ngandu noted that the reduction of international climate funding, particularly from the United States government, has disrupted projects worth billions of shillings, leaving communities more vulnerable to the impacts of global warming.
“Withdrawal of donor funding has negatively affected many climate change-led initiatives. Communities are bound to suffer the effects of global warming if the government does not act fast,” she said.
The call for increased government investment comes amid rising concerns over the growing frequency of extreme weather events, including flash floods, prolonged droughts, and strong winds, which continue to devastate communities and agricultural livelihoods across the country.
Ngandu further highlighted the need to involve young people in climate change mitigation and resilience programs, describing them as key agents of change in their communities.
She called for more capacity-building programs to empower youth on the carbon credit market, which she said could unlock new economic opportunities for grassroots populations.
“There should be capacity-building programs for youths on the carbon credit frontier which is set to unlock more economic benefits to the grassroots communities,” she said.
She added that many young people still lack knowledge about how the carbon credit system operates.
Youth Senate Kenya representative Sheila Anyango also stressed the importance of ensuring that the younger generation takes a leading role in climate change initiatives, given their demographic dominance.
She emphasized that local communities must have better access to financing mechanisms to support climate mitigation and adaptation projects.
Meanwhile, Coast Region youth representative Rodgers Ngoo linked the rising incidents of human-wildlife conflict to the escalating effects of climate change.
He explained that dwindling resources such as water and pasture have forced both people and animals to migrate, often leading to competition and conflict.
“Resources such as water and pasture are dwindling, people and animals are being displaced by floods or facing starvation, and communities are competing for these limited resources,” he said.
Ngoo reiterated that the voices of young people must be amplified in national and local discussions on climate policy, noting that their participation is vital in shaping inclusive and effective climate solutions.
He emphasized that empowering the youth would ensure long-term sustainability and resilience in the face of growing environmental challenges.
The youth leaders concluded that urgent action by the government to increase climate adaptation funding and enhance youth involvement is crucial for protecting communities and ensuring a sustainable future for Kenya.
