Climate Change in Kenya - Part 2
So how is this lack of rain linked to climate change and how is it man made?
The Kenyan government set a target of 10% forest cover – the level experts say is required for a country to sustain life naturally - but at present, Kenya’s forest cover is only 1.7% - one of the lowest levels in East Africa.
One of the biggest losers has been the Mau forest. Although it is one of Kenya's five major water catchment areas, political manoeuvring and resettlement schemes have seen huge swathes cut down to make way for farms, to feed hungry sawmills, and to provide charcoal for household use.
The result has been changing weather patterns during the past decade. The past two years were the worst; with rains inconsistent, late and unpredictable.
Anyone you ask here tells you the climate has changed. They will also point the finger at the loss of forest cover. If you ask them what is to be done, they say the planting of trees. I can tell you that when I go home I will be planting trees.
The area where I am based, in the Great Rift Valley, is a fertile highland, of temperate climate and rolling hills and gentle valleys that is quite densely populated, almost everywhere you look is farms but not long ago this area was almost all forest.
Trees are of course critical to the regulation of the climate - reducing carbon dioxide in the air and thus reducing the greenhouse effect. Here in Kenya where they have lost so much of their forest cover, they are feeling the impact of climate change.
The blame for the current suffering of Kenyans does not just rest on their own shoulders for decimating their natural resources. Western countries are also guilty. The lifestyles we lead contribute hugely to greenhouse gas emissions that are choking what trees remain globally.
Every time we drive a car, take a plane, leave lights on needlessly, throw out our rubbish carelessly, we are guilty. In Ireland, we aren't suffering yet, unless you count the dismal summers, but those on the equatorial belt, those most vulnerable countries are bearing the brunt of our mostly mindless and unnecessary pollution.
So what can we do? We are not in Kenya and so cannot help them replant their lost forest cover.
We can however plant trees in Ireland - plant them to celebrate this earth and the life it gives us, plant them to celebrate births or marriages, anniversaries or special days.
We can reduce needless car journeys, turn off lights, sort our waste, question whether we really need that new product or whether the other still works fine and so on.
We need not just to reduce our own personal pollution but also to pressure our governments to consider the Earth's well-being and the well-being of all the life it supports. Later this year, we have that opportunity.
In Copenhagen this December, world leaders will negotiate a new climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol. This is our opportunity to help. We need to lobby, pressure, demonstrate, call, write and make noise to let the our government know what we the people need.
We need a strong and safe treaty that will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions – by enough to avoid climate chaos. The treat must be legally binding and it must to be fair to the countries of the developing world who suffer our transgressions the most but are least able to cope.
So if you do anything after reading this weblog, please plant a tree or two, write a letter to An Taoiseach Brian Cowen reminding him to work for a fair and binding treaty in Copenhagen. And perhaps leave the car at home and listen to the birds singing in the trees.
Related Links
United Nations Climate Change Conference - Dec.7-Dec.18 2009
Stop Climate Chaos - Gorta is a member of this coalition of organisations campaigning to ensure Ireland plays its part in preventing runaway climate change.
The Climate Quiz - United Nations
