Barriers and Limits to Climate Change Management in Developing Countries: Case Study of Kenya, Eastern African Region

Abstract

This chapter looks at barriers and limits to climate change management in developing countries. The adverse impacts of climate change on community livelihoods and environmental health have been documented. Climate change adaptation and mitigation involve various stakeholders at global and local levels. The global efforts are addressed through various platforms. These include conventions, protocols, treaties, and conference of the parties (COPs). Notable examples of the global efforts range from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 through the landmark Paris Agreement (COP 21) and the 2019 Conference of Parties (COP25) in Madrid Spain. The efforts also relate to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly as climate affects all sectors of a society. Local-level initiatives involve national governments and local communities. Kenya is an example of a developing country where manifestations of climate change have been observed and documented. The country has initiated mechanisms to address climate change by developing policy options for climate risk management through programs that enhance adaptation capacity and mitigation mechanisms. The country has ratified the Paris Agreement and developed a Climate Change Act and a National Adaptation Plan (NAP). The 2010 Constitution of Kenya and the National Climate Change Response Strategy are some of the legal and institutional documents that address climate change management. Experiences from Kenya indicate that efforts to address climate change through adaptation and mitigation have been thwarted by specific barriers and limits. These include barriers experienced by individuals, organizations, and local governments. This chapter therefore establishes barriers and responses to climate change adaptation management in Kenya as a developing country and gives recommendations in line with the findings. The information generated contributes and enhances existing spatial and temporal knowledge on adaptation and mitigation barriers.