A 2024 report by the National  Droughts and Management Authority (NDMA) stated that the impacts of climate change led to transactional sex for food, school fees and sanitary pads as a coping mechanism for girls and young women. The 2024 IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) confirms climate change disproportionately affects women thus exacerbating inequalities.

Worse still, the  NDMA report noted that climate change increased teenage pregnancies in the 23 counties totaled to 32,416 with girls 15-19 years (29,992). It is these kinds of damage that are irreversible and warrant a gender lens.

Speaking during a Post COP 30 meeting on loss and damage organized by UNFPA Kenya and the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Forestry, Ruth Nyamasege, the Kenya in-country senior facilitator the National Determined Contributions Partnership and  the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) III – 2023-2027 said, “Women in Kenya have been disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis.”

Nyamasege also underscored that women have incurred losses and damages that not only warrant attention but quantification. She further highlighted that women’s livelihoods have been deeply affected by climate change, and that they remain vulnerable, now more than ever.

Accordingly, Grace Uwizeye from UNFPA observed that , “Climate change is not gender neutral.” Uwizeye further demonstrated that women’s enormous loss of livelihoods is attributed to the climate induced hazards such as drought and floods.

She also highlighted that over 107, 318 women of reproductive age have been affected in Kenya due to rising water levels. 

Markedly, Evelyn Makena, Children Officer, National Social Protection Secretariat, said “When crisis hits, women and girls bear the greatest social, economic and care burdens.” Makena  reiterated that if women are not at the decision making table, responses will fail to reflect their needs.

With the same tone, Yvonne Ndanu from the State Department  of Gender Affairs and Affirmative action said, “Women and girls are more vulnerable to climate change due to pre-existing social norms and inequalities.” Ndanu reiterated that when it comes to climate change, women, men, girls and boys are affected in different ways.

Jecinta Kamau, from the Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development said , “Women participation and leadership is not optional; it is essential to designing just, effective Loss and Damage responses.” She further underscored that, “Loss and Damage is not gender neutral without women shaping climate decisions, the real costs remain invisible and climate justice remains out of reach.”

The Post COP 30 meeting brought together participants from national and county institutions  including faculty  from  Kenyatta University,  Masinde Muliro University, Egerton University , the University of Nairobi,  the County Governments of Kisumu, Busia, Nakuru and Turkana, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action, the National Treasury, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the National Social Protection Secretariat, Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development, State Department for Transport,  the African Center for Health, Climate & Gender Justice Alliance (ACHCGA), and the NDC Partnership underscoring the broad stakeholder engagement.

From Dependency to Development

For decades, Africa has lived on the promises of climate funding from developed nations, pledges often laden with conditions and delays. These nations whose own economic prosperity was built on the back of fossil fuels now push Africa to embrace renewable energy while continuing to power their industries with coal and oil. This glaring double standard threatens to undermine Africa’s economic sovereignty and risks turning the continent into a laboratory for renewable energy experiments that serve foreign interests over local communities

Innovating for Resilience

Africa is brimming with potential to lead the charge in sustainable development. From investing in renewable energy infrastructure to promoting circular economies and indigenous climate solutions, the continent can redefine what a just transition looks like. Homegrown initiatives such as Kenya’s geothermal energy projects or Rwanda’s green urban planning models are examples of how Africa can build resilience from within. By focusing on localized solutions, Africa can not only reduce its vulnerability to climate shocks but also assert itself as a leader in global climate action. Moreover, African nations must unite in demanding greater accountability from developed countries to drastically reduce their emissions, rather than shifting the burden to developing regions.

Addressing the Social Dimensions

Climate change is not just an environmental issue, it’s a human one. In Africa, its impacts disproportionately affect women, indigenous communities, and public health systems. Women, who often bear the responsibility of providing for families, are hit hardest by droughts, floods, and food insecurity. Indigenous peoples, the stewards of Africa’s rich biodiversity, face displacement and loss of cultural heritage due to climate-driven land degradation. Africa’s climate strategy must integrate these social dimensions. Empowering women through education and resource access, protecting indigenous rights, and strengthening health systems are critical steps in building a climate-resilient continent.

A Vision for Africa’s Climate Sovereignty

COP29 has made one thing clear, Africa cannot entrust its climate future to the Global North. While international cooperation remains vital, true progress demands an African-led revolution in climate action. By rejecting dependency, embracing innovation, and centering its people on climate strategies, Africa can turn its greatest challenge into its greatest opportunity. The time is now for African nations to rise, united in their resolve to build a sustainable and equitable future. Africa has the power to lead the fight against climate change—not as victims, but as visionaries shaping a new global narrative where justice, equity, and resilience take center stage.