What is Climate Change?

Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be seen by changes in its nature over time, usually for decades or longer. It refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity. Experts and scientists all agree now, that the earth is warming. They also agree that the earth’s warming is certainly being caused by human activity.

These activities include burning of fossil fuels, emission of greenhouse gases and irresponsible farming and other activities that destroy trees and other green vegetation. The warming of the earth is bad for us long term. It will lead to worse floods, longer droughts, lack of food, and water scarcity. For those living along the coast, they can also be directly affected by rising sea levels.

Agriculture in Kenya

Kenya’s agriculture sector is very important in ensuring we have food to eat, money for our use, and reducing poverty. It is also very important in making sure that we do not destroy natural resources. Right now, agriculture is the country’s largest source of money. The sector employs a lot of people and is the largest source of exports. 

Understanding Climate Smart Agriculture

The term ‘climate smart agriculture’ was created in 2010 at the first Global Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change at the Hague, in the Netherlands. It is a term used to describe the balance between maximum food productivity, and the emission of Greenhouse Gases from agriculture.

By defining it this way, Climate Smart Agriculture thus combines agriculture, climate change and development, and therefore jointly addresses food security and climate change. It does this by focusing on three areas of development: economic, social and environmental.

At the Hague conference, food security and climate change were identified as the two most important things that the world community has to address. This means that ‘climate smart agriculture’ uses methods of growing food that are environmentally friendly and sustainable.

This approach has three objectives.

1. Sustainable increase of agricultural produce and income. 
2. Adapt to, and build resilience to climate change. 
3. Minimize greenhouse gas emmissions, where possible.

For more information, download the strategy below.