Kenya’s State Department for Environment and Climate Change has launched the Children’s Climate and Disaster Risk Model (CCDRM). Developed in partnership with UNICEF and other key stakeholders, this innovative online platform is designed to track and mitigate the climate and disaster risks faced by children across the country.
The CCDRM is a sophisticated tool that offers multisectoral evidence to inform strategic and sustainable climate programming. By providing localized data, the platform illustrates how children and their communities are vulnerable to climatic and related shocks and stressors. It highlights various indicators to show where and how children are at risk, aiming to empower stakeholders to take informed and effective action.
During the launch event held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi Upper Hill, Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Environment and Climate Change, underscored the critical insights revealed by the model. “Children are seven times more vulnerable than adults to climate and environmental hazards, both physically and physiologically,” Dr. Ng’eno stated. This vulnerability is increasingly evident in Kenya, which has faced severe climatic events such as the worst drought in 40 years and devastating floods in recent months.
Dr. Ng’eno emphasized that the CCDRM exemplifies how national stakeholders can collaborate to create a decision-making tool focused on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, with a strong emphasis on children and their communities. The tool aligns with several national strategies, including Kenya’s bottom-up growth and development strategy, Vision 2030 aspirations, the updated nationally determined contribution (NDC), the National Adaptation Plan, and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP 2023-2027).
The CCDRM provides critical data that will support the implementation of the National Climate Change Action Plan III, helping stakeholders target interventions to ensure that all children in Kenya have an equal and fair opportunity to reach their full potential. This tool is particularly crucial for counties where children face very high risk levels due to climate and environmental hazards. Counties such as Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera, Tana River, and Garissa are highlighted as high-risk areas, with an estimated 2.4 million children living in these regions.
UNICEF Kenya Representative, Shaheen Nilofer, highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on children, noting, “The climate crisis is a child rights crisis, and the CCDRM reveals the varying risk levels in each county, highlighting the urgent need for targeted action. This model is a vital tool for stakeholders to prioritize investment in climate action and disaster risk reduction efforts, building long-term resilience and sustainability for children and communities.”
The launch of the CCDRM is a significant step towards fulfilling Kenya’s commitment to protecting children and youth from the impacts of climate change. It aligns with the goals outlined in the new National Climate Change Action Plan 2023-2027, which emphasizes the importance of empowering young people to actively participate in both national and local climate action initiatives.
As Kenya continues to face the challenges posed by climate change, the CCDRM stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of collaborative efforts. By focusing on the most vulnerable segments of the population—its children—the country is making a profound investment in its future resilience and sustainability. This pioneering platform not only enhances the capacity to respond to immediate threats but also paves the way for a more secure and equitable future for all Kenyan children.
