‘Green transition is irreversible,’ Ruto says at UN Environment Assembly

Speaking at the 7th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Gigiri, Nairobi, President Ruto described green transition as a pivotal moment for Africa and the world.

“Green transition is irreversible; for Africa, climate change is not an abstract debate; it is a daily experience,” President Ruto said.

He highlighted the recent drought emergency declared in over 20 counties, which has left more than two million people at risk of acute hunger and water scarcity as rains fail and climate stress devastates crops and livestock.

“Annual property losses from natural disasters have now been estimated at USD 150 billion. For Africa, these numbers add to the existing burden of debts, infrastructure devastation, and limited discourse space,” he said.

The president further emphasised the transformative potential of technology, saying, “artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and electrification are reshaping how we produce, work, and trade. If this transformation is not in line with environmental protection, equity, and human dignity, we risk building a new high-tech economy on the old foundation of extraction, exclusion, and pollution.”

Ruto outlined Africa’s vision for a modern, digital, and green economy powered by renewable energy, innovation, and climate protection policy.

He stressed that every investment in industry, infrastructure, and technology must reinforce resilience, protect nature, and create opportunities for people.

“Biodiversity loss is not an abstract; it is real,” he said. “It is a reminder that when we commit, when we collaborate and stay focused, we can reverse, decline, and restore life.”