Raila flies out to join Ruto at COP27 Summit
ODM leader Raila Odinga has left the country to join the world leaders at the United Nations’ 27th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP27) in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh.
According to Mr Odinga’s personal assistant and ODM Communication Director, Philip Etale, the opposition leader left the country on Monday morning to attend the summit after being invited in his capacity as an African Union (AU) convoy.
“Rt. Hon. Odinga has been invited to address the meeting at Sharm El-Sheikh in his capacity as the African Union (AU), High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa,” Mr Etale said.
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Mr Odinga is expected to make a presentation on the impact of climate change on infrastructure development in Africa and why there is a need for strengthening adaptation and resilience, mitigating emissions, facilitating a just transition and increasing funding and collaboration for essential climate solutions.
The summit is also being attended by President William Ruto who left the country on Saturday. President Ruto will deliver a statement on behalf the African Group and Kenya at the Summit on Monday evening.
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According to Mr Etale, the Summit comes in the wake of last month’s publishing of the Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032) by the African Union, which is a 10-year strategic planning document to address the impacts of climate change that hamper the continent’s integration and development.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will also attend the Summit. Initially, after taking the office, Sunak had suggest that he would not attend it since he had a lot of work to do.
Kenya is also among the countries that have been hugely affected by the effects of climate change, although it contributes to less than 4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
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