CS Barasa Opens 2025 Climate Action Summit at KSG.
By Peace Muthoka.
Nairobi, October 28, 2025 — Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Deborah Mlongo Barasa officially opened the 2025 Climate Action Summit at the Kenya School of Government (KSG), calling for stronger partnerships to advance sustainable and inclusive climate solutions across the country.
The summit, co-convened by the Nairobi Rivers Commission, the Kenya School of Government, and the National Youth Council, brought together leaders, experts, and youth to explore practical ways of linking national climate ambitions with local community action.
In her opening remarks, CS Barasa said Kenya continues to demonstrate leadership in climate governance through the Climate Change Amendment Act 2023 and the National Climate Change Action Plan.
“Climate change remains one of the most defining challenges of our generation,” she said. “Yet it presents immense opportunities for innovation, growth, and social transformation. Kenya’s response has been deliberate and strategic, driven by inclusion and sustainability.”
Barasa noted that the government has mobilized more than KSh 32 billion through the Locally Led Climate Action Program to support community-driven adaptation projects. She also revealed that Kenya’s 15 billion tree-growing initiative has surpassed the 1.06 billion mark, enhancing resilience and green development.
“Our focus on inclusion and innovation reflects our belief that climate action must be people-centered,” she emphasized. “We are prioritizing women, youth, and marginalized groups as active agents in this transition.”
She lauded the Nairobi Rivers Commission for its restoration work, terming it a model of integrated climate action aligned with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
Barasa reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to champion Africa’s unified climate agenda ahead of COP30 and COP31 by advocating for climate finance reforms, green industrialization, and South–South cooperation.
“This summit provides a vital platform to align national priorities with global commitments,” Barasa said. “Together, we can turn climate ambition into tangible development outcomes.”
Nairobi Rivers Commission Chairperson Margaret Wanjiru praised the summit as a timely platform for strengthening coordination and accountability in climate delivery.
“This year’s theme is both timely and transformative,” she said. “Climate action is no longer about isolated initiatives or policies that remain on paper. It is about connecting national ambition with local realities and leadership vision with community action.”
Wanjiru highlighted the success of the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Project, noting its impact on environmental restoration, youth empowerment, and social inclusion. She reaffirmed the Commission’s plan to expand similar projects to the Ngong and Mathare rivers and eventually across the country.
The four-day summit aims to consolidate Kenya’s national climate commitments and showcase progress in translating policy into community-driven results.
