Mandera County has clinched the prestigious Living Green for Climate Change category award at the 2024 Future Green City Congress, held in Utrecht, The Netherlands. This recognition highlights the county’s remarkable strides in addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development in one of the harshest and most arid regions of Kenya.
The Mandera Municipality Greening Programme, which seeks to mitigate the devastating impacts of climate change, particularly desertification, and land degradation, was recognized for its innovative approach to creating green spaces in an area typically characterized by drought and scarce vegetation. This achievement places Mandera among the leading global examples of climate resilience, earning praise from the Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, who lauded the county’s efforts in spearheading climate action.
The Future Green City Congress and Mandera’s Victory
The Future Green City Congress is a biennial event organized by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (IAHP). It aims to promote innovative urban green infrastructure and recognize cities and municipalities that are making significant progress in climate adaptation and environmental preservation. The 2024 edition saw global contenders from various regions, including China, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, and Romania, competing in seven categories that assess various facets of climate-friendly urban development.
Mandera’s victory is particularly noteworthy given the county’s geographical location in Kenya’s northeastern region, which experiences extreme temperatures and arid conditions. Despite these challenges, the county government, under the leadership of Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif, has managed to implement a greening program that not only improves the local environment but also enhances the quality of life for its residents.
The Living Green for Climate Change category acknowledges municipalities and cities that have adopted proactive measures to mitigate the effects of climate change. In the case of Mandera, the award recognizes the county’s efforts to combat desertification through afforestation, land restoration, and the introduction of climate-resilient agricultural practices.
Mandera’s Greening Programme: A Model of Climate Action
Mandera’s Greening Programme represents a groundbreaking initiative aimed at reclaiming degraded lands, increasing vegetation cover, and creating sustainable green spaces within the county. The program was launched as part of a broader strategy to enhance food security, promote biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change in the region.
Through a combination of community engagement, government support, and strategic partnerships with environmental organizations, Mandera has managed to plant thousands of trees, establish community nurseries, and promote the use of drought-resistant plants that thrive in arid climates. These efforts have contributed to reversing the impacts of soil erosion and desertification, which had previously plagued the county.
Key to the success of the greening program has been the empowerment of local communities to take ownership of environmental conservation efforts. The county government, in collaboration with local leaders and civil society groups, has conducted extensive awareness campaigns on the importance of environmental conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable farming practices. This has led to widespread community participation in tree planting exercises, environmental clean-ups, and the maintenance of newly created green spaces.
Moreover, Mandera’s greening efforts have been bolstered by the adoption of modern irrigation technologies, such as drip irrigation, which ensures efficient use of water resources in the cultivation of trees and crops. Given the scarcity of water in the region, these technologies have been crucial in sustaining the greening initiative and ensuring that the planted trees and vegetation survive the harsh climatic conditions.
Recognition of Mandera’s Climate Resilience Efforts
Mandera’s triumph at the 2024 Future Green City Congress is not only a win for the county but also a testament to Kenya’s commitment to addressing climate change on a global scale. Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who flagged off the Mandera delegation to the awards ceremony in Nairobi on 20th September 2024, expressed pride in the county’s achievement, noting that it serves as a model for other regions facing similar environmental challenges.
In his congratulatory message, Duale emphasized the importance of continued investment in climate adaptation and environmental conservation across Kenya. He highlighted the government’s dedication to supporting local initiatives that promote sustainable development and build climate resilience, especially in counties that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Duale further commended Mandera’s leadership for their visionary approach to transforming the county’s environmental landscape, noting that the greening program not only contributes to climate change mitigation but also enhances food security, improves air quality, and creates job opportunities for local communities.
The Global Stage: Competing with the World’s Best
Mandera’s victory in the Living Green for Climate Change category is a remarkable achievement considering the caliber of global competitors at the Future Green City Congress. Other winners in the seven-category competition included cities with well-established environmental programs, such as Chengdu (China), which won the overall Grand Winner award for its Urban Green Heart Programme, and Sao Paulo (Brazil), Joondalup (Australia), Mexico City (Mexico), Baia Mare (Romania), and Curitiba (Brazil), which excelled in other categories.
Chengdu’s Urban Green Heart Programme earned the top prize for its innovative approach to urban green infrastructure, which integrates large-scale green spaces into the city’s urban fabric to improve air quality, reduce urban heat islands, and promote biodiversity. Similarly, the other winning cities were recognized for their unique approaches to enhancing urban resilience, promoting green mobility, and fostering sustainable urban agriculture.
Despite competing against such well-established urban centers, Mandera’s greening program stood out for its focus on climate resilience in an arid region and its successful engagement of local communities in environmental conservation efforts. The win underscores the potential of even the most climate-vulnerable regions to drive positive change and contribute to global climate action.
The Broader Implications for Kenya and Africa
Mandera’s success at the global awards has far-reaching implications for Kenya and the African continent at large. It highlights the potential of African counties and cities to contribute meaningfully to the global fight against climate change, even in the face of significant challenges such as resource scarcity, extreme weather conditions, and limited infrastructure.
The recognition of Mandera’s greening efforts also aligns with Kenya’s broader national agenda on climate action. Under the leadership of President William Ruto, the Kenyan government has prioritized climate change mitigation and adaptation as key components of its development strategy. This includes investments in renewable energy, reforestation programs, and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices across the country.
In addition, Mandera’s victory reinforces the importance of local governments and municipalities in driving climate action at the grassroots level. As the effects of climate change become more pronounced, there is an increasing need for localized solutions that address the specific environmental challenges faced by different regions. Mandera’s greening program serves as an example of how counties can leverage community involvement, modern technology, and strategic partnerships to create sustainable solutions that benefit both people and the planet.
The Future of Mandera’s Greening Programme
Looking ahead, the success of the Mandera Greening Programme is likely to inspire further investments in environmental conservation and climate adaptation initiatives in the county. The recognition at the global level provides a platform for Mandera to attract additional support from both national and international organizations dedicated to climate resilience and sustainable development.
Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif has expressed his commitment to expanding the greening program and ensuring its long-term sustainability. This includes plans to plant more trees, rehabilitate additional degraded lands, and introduce climate-smart agricultural practices that will further enhance the county’s resilience to climate change.
In conclusion, Mandera County’s victory at the 2024 Future Green City Congress is a testament to the power of local action in addressing global challenges. It demonstrates that even regions facing extreme environmental conditions can become leaders in climate resilience through innovation, community engagement, and sustained effort. As Kenya and the rest of the world continue to grapple with the impacts of climate change, Mandera’s greening program stands as a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration for climate action worldwide.
