COP29: Kenyan Scientist Urges Action on Climate Funding

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*BAKU*: Joyce Kimutai, a prominent Kenyan climate scientist, voiced her frustrations as global leaders continue to prioritize politics over science at the ongoing COP29 climate summit. “If the world was listening to science, maybe we wouldn’t be doing these COPs,” the 36-year-old expert stated during this year’s UN forum in Azerbaijan. “We are very slow in how we take our action. We are afraid of taking bold steps. And I do not understand why.”

As the conference approaches its second week, there remains a significant lack of progress in securing essential financial assistance for climate-vulnerable countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Without this support, developing nations warn they will struggle to transition to clean energy and adapt to the intensifying climate shocks that threaten their communities. The negotiations have stalled, leaving those most affected by extreme weather increasingly frustrated.

“It’s really frustrating,” Kimutai remarked, reflecting on her role as a lead author for reports by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). “I try to be optimistic, but honestly speaking, there are days that I wake up and I am very pessimistic, because you’ve seen the suffering of these communities.”

Kimutai's expertise in attributing humanity’s role in climate change has made her acutely aware of the consequences of inaction. Based in Nairobi, she feels a deep connection to the data she analyzes, especially as Kenya has recently endured its worst drought in decades, followed by devastating floods that have killed hundreds and destroyed vital infrastructure.

In the Rift Valley, where her passion for science began, she observes increasing landslides, unpredictable seasons, and dwindling resources for livestock. “Climate change is exacting a terrible toll in Kenya, but it’s no different elsewhere in Africa or other developing regions,” she noted. “They are not ready for these events.”

Kimutai pointed out that even wealthy nations are not immune to climate impacts, citing recent deadly floods in Spain as an example of how climate change can catch even developed countries off guard.

At COP29, she is advising the Kenyan government as it advocates for a commitment from wealthier nations—those most responsible for climate change—to provide better support for poorer countries. However, donor nations remain hesitant to allocate substantial new funds, often calling for contributions from countries like China, complicating negotiations.

Kimutai emphasized that Kenya is “carrying the continent” as the head of the Africa Group of Negotiators, advocating for financial solutions that do not burden nations with debt. “If you’re experiencing three or four disasters in a year, that is four times going to donors asking for money to respond. And that means you are constantly finding yourself in debt,” she explained.

As the summit continues, Kimutai's call for urgent action resonates with many who are watching the negotiations unfold, hoping for a breakthrough that will provide the necessary support for vulnerable communities facing the harsh realities of climate change.