When we talk about climate action, the focus is often on emissions, energy, and the environment. But if we zoom out or, better yet, zoom in, we realise it’s also about people. It’s about livelihoods, dignity, and justice.
That’s where the idea of a “Just Transition” comes in. It’s one of those terms that’s easy to say, harder to define, and even harder to implement. But in Kenya, a country facing the brunt of climate change while striving for inclusive development, getting this right is not optional. It’s essential.
So, what exactly is a just transition? And how does it relate to Kenya’s 2031–2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)? Let’s unpack it together.
First, What Is a Just Transition?
At its core, a just transition means leaving no one behind as we shift to a greener economy. It recognises that while climate action is urgent, it must also be fair. It must protect workers, support vulnerable communities, and create new opportunities as old ones phase out.
In global conversations, the term often refers to coal miners losing their jobs as countries move away from fossil fuels. But Kenya’s context is different.
We’re not a coal-heavy economy. We don’t have massive fossil fuel industries to dismantle. Instead, we’re looking at a different landscape:
- Farmers whose yields are dropping due to unpredictable weather
- Informal workers in urban areas affected by heatwaves and floods
- Pastoralist communities migrating further for pasture
- Youth struggling to find meaningful, sustainable work
A just transition for Kenya, then, is about climate justice that reflects our realities and corrects our inequalities.
Why Does This Matter in the NDC?
Kenya’s NDC is essentially our climate promise to the world and ourselves. It outlines how we’ll cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts between 2031 and 2035.
But here’s the catch: climate actions can create winners and losers. If we’re not intentional, the green transition could deepen poverty, displace workers, or marginalise communities further.
That’s why Kenya’s new NDC needs to be more than technically sound. It must be socially grounded.
Incorporating just transition principles into the NDC means:
- Investing in green jobs for youth
- Supporting farmers to shift to climate-resilient crops
- Enhancing social protections during climate shocks
- Including women, youth, and indigenous communities in decision-making
- Planning for clean energy access that reaches the last mile
These are not add-ons. They are essential.
What Could a Just Transition Look Like in Kenya?
Let’s paint a picture.
1. Green Jobs, Not Just Green Talk
Imagine if every county had a youth led green enterprise hub. Places where young people are trained in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, waste management, and climate tech.
These hubs wouldn’t just create jobs they’d create ownership. Because when young people are part of the solution, they become champions of change.
2. Resilient Farmers, Not Forgotten Ones
Farmers are already on the frontline of climate impacts. A just transition means equipping them with knowledge, tools, and markets to thrive in a changing climate.
Agroecology, indigenous seed systems, and access to climate data are part of the puzzle. But so is land tenure security, access to finance, and value chain support.
3. Informal Sector, Formal Recognition
Kenya’s informal sector is huge. Yet climate policy rarely acknowledges it.
Think of the women selling vegetables by the roadside, or the youth in waste collection. They are part of the climate solution. A just transition would invest in upgrading informal settlements, integrating waste pickers into circular economy plans, and ensuring urban resilience planning includes all livelihoods.
4. Community Energy, Not Energy Apartheid
Access to clean energy shouldn’t be a privilege. Yet many rural and pastoralist communities still rely on charcoal, kerosene, or firewood.
A just transition would promote decentralized renewable energy solar mini-grids, clean cooking solutions, and battery innovations with community ownership and training at the center.
What’s Already Happening?
Kenya has made strides:
- The Climate Change Act includes language on a just transition.
- The National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) touches on green jobs and community adaptation.
- Programs like Ajira Digital and Kazi Mtaani hint at what’s possible when we link jobs to resilience.
- The Ministry of Environment is including public participation in the NDC process like never before.
But we still have a long way to go.
Policies need budgets. Strategies need community voices. Data needs disaggregation by gender, age, and region. And above all, climate justice needs political will.
Why Should You Care?
Because climate justice isn’t abstract. It’s about you, your family, and your future.
It’s about whether your child can go to school during floods. Whether your business survives a drought. Whether your voice matters in decisions that shape your environment.
A just transition ensures climate action doesn’t come at the cost of fairness. It bridges the gap between ambition and equity. Between targets and people.
And here’s the thing: you don’t need to be a policymaker to make a difference.
You can:
- Join community consultations
- Ask local leaders how climate plans affect your ward
- Support local green businesses
- Educate others in your network
- Share your story, your solutions, your struggles
Because the more voices we have, the fairer our transition becomes.
Final Thoughts
Kenya stands at a crossroads. The climate crisis is undeniable. But so is the opportunity for transformation.
If we get this right, the NDC won’t just be a document on emissions. It will be a blueprint for dignity, inclusion, and resilience.
A just transition is not a slogan. It’s a commitment. One that asks: how do we heal our planet and our people at the same time?
As the Eco Advocate community, let’s be part of the answer.
Stay rooted. Stay curious. Stay wild.
