NAIROBI, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has submitted its Second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, outlining its roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change from 2031 to 2035, a senior official said.
Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to submit revised NDCs, or national carbon-cutting targets, every five years. Kenya met its submission deadline of April 30, 2025, and its new submission aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent by 2035, equivalent to eliminating 75.25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
"Kenya envisions a climate-resilient society where livelihoods, communities, socio-economic sectors, infrastructure, and ecosystems, will thrive despite the current and projected impacts of climate change," Deborah Barasa, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, on Wednesday evening.
Barasa said that the NDCs demonstrate Kenya's resolve to pursue bold, inclusive, and forward-looking climate action, including adaptation strategies and mechanisms to finance loss and damage, despite global uncertainties.
"Kenya reaffirms her leadership in global climate change and calls upon the international community to support this bold and ambitious agenda which aims to unlock sustainable development opportunities," Barasa added.
To realize the new climate blueprint, the Kenyan government plans to fund 20 percent of the target through domestic resources and will seek international support to cover the remaining 80 percent. This includes climate finance, investments, technology development and transfer, capacity building, and participation in global carbon markets, Barasa said.
The updated NDCs also aim to drive transformative economic development, innovation, and inclusive growth across key sectors. The government estimates it will require approximately 56 billion U.S. dollars for mitigation and adaptation efforts between 2031 and 2035, contributing about 2.1 billion dollars annually from domestic sources. ■