Remarks · 1 April 2025
President Hilda Heine, President Macky Sall, Excellencies, Friends,
I am honoured to host this important meeting of the Global Center on Adaptation. It is a privilege for Kenya to host such a vital institution, one that stands at the forefront of global efforts to address the pressing climate crisis.
Africa is currently the most vulnerable continent in the face of the climate crisis. Yet, it is also the cradle of climate solutions and the future of green industrialisation. Africa is central to the global climate agenda — both now and in the years to come.
I am therefore pleased to announce that Kenya has signed a hosting agreement with the Global Center, and we look forward to hosting its new dual headquarters.
I extend my sincere thanks to President Macky Sall for taking over the leadership from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who now serves as our Honorary Chair. With your deep understanding of our continent, I am confident that the GCA will continue to thrive under your leadership.
Dear Colleagues, Karibuni — a warm Kenyan welcome to you all.
The work of the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) is essential for building capacity and resilience, enabling us to address development and climate challenges simultaneously.
While the AAAP is already operating at scale, we must build upon its success and take it even further.
I would like to express special appreciation to our development partners — the UK, Norway, France, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, and the Gates Foundation — for their strong support. I encourage you to deepen this partnership with Africa to match the scale of our rising challenges with equal ambition.
Without a strong AAAP and a strong Global Center for Adaptation, Africa faces enormous risks. Our development potential will remain constrained by climate change, leading to security threats, forced migration, health crises, job losses, and macroeconomic instability.
10. And let us be clear: these risks will not be confined to Africa. Europe and others will also be affected — both directly and indirectly.
The AAAP and the GCA remind us that it doesn’t have to be this way. We have the opportunity before us to strengthen global partnerships on climate resilience through this Center. 12. I understand there is growing pressure to reduce development assistance. However, I believe we can all agree that investment in adaptation and resilience must continue. 13. We need the Center. We need the AAAP — now more than ever. 14. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise Professor Patrick Verkooijen President of the Global Center for Adaptation. The Center’s success is due, in large part, to your vision, passion, energy, and unwavering commitment.
You have proven — both in word and action — that you are a true friend of Kenya. Together, we look forward to supporting this board and all its members in making Africa a climate-smart, resilient continent — thriving sustainably. Thank you very much. God bless you. God bless Kenya. God bless Africa.