Kenya has been granted the honour of co-hosting the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA), an international institution dedicated to accelerating action on climate change. President William Ruto made the announcement following a GCA meeting at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County.
The GCA, headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, will now have a dual headquarters in Nairobi. This move underscores Kenya’s growing influence in global climate adaptation efforts and aligns with the country’s commitment to sustainable development.
Ruto emphasized that the decision to co-host the GCA was reached in collaboration with President Macky Sall of Senegal, who serves as the new chair of the GCA Board. He reaffirmed their joint commitment to the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme, which aims to strengthen climate resilience across the continent.
The President expressed gratitude to development partners, including the United Kingdom, Norway, France, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, and the Gates Foundation, for their unwavering support for Africa’s climate adaptation initiatives.
“Africa is the most affected continent by the climate crisis, yet it is also the cradle of green innovation and provides the world with the best opportunities for mitigating the effects of climate change,” Ruto stated.
This announcement follows Ruto’s speech at the Africa Climate Summit (AACS) on September 5, 2023, where he first revealed plans for Nairobi to host the GCA Africa headquarters. He highlighted the centre’s aspirational design, featuring green walls, roofs, and rain gardens, embodying the principles of nature-based solutions.
GCA CEO and University of Nairobi Chancellor Patrick Verkooijen later shared insights on the motivation behind choosing Nairobi. Speaking on Citizen TV in February 2024, he credited Ruto’s influence in shaping the decision. During a 2023 state visit to the Netherlands, Ruto challenged Verkooijen to establish GCA offices in Africa, given the continent’s central role in the organisation’s climate adaptation efforts.
The establishment of the GCA headquarters in Nairobi is expected to enhance Africa’s leadership in climate adaptation, fostering innovation and policy solutions to combat climate change. This milestone reinforces Kenya’s commitment to environmental sustainability and positions the country at the forefront of global climate action.
