This archive report was first published on 21 June 2021.
KenGen, a leading power generation company in Kenya, has made a significant move towards the fight against global warming by joining the UN-backed Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign.
Launched in 2019, the campaign aims to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies and to report on their implementation.
By committing to this ambition, KenGen is expected to establish emission reduction targets through investments in green and clean energy that will go a long way in limiting the earth's warming to 1.5°C as per the Paris Agreement of 2015.
Under this arrangement, the company commits to annually disclose its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions as a way of checking and reducing its carbon footprint.
KenGen Managing Director and CEO, Mrs. Rebecca Miano, said the platform reiterates the organization's position as a regional business champion and pacesetter in the Climate Change Action.
"By joining the below 1.5-degree global campaign, we are only reiterating our business as usual. We have shifted our investments to green and renewable energy and harnessing of low carbon sources of energy," said Mrs. Miano, adding "we have also intensified environment conservation activities and energy efficiency improvement across the company."
KenGen is a participant member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), a non-binding pact to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies and to report on their implementation.
The company's commitment comes as a time when the world is working towards stemming the climate change crisis by setting science-based reduction targets aimed at halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and hitting net-zero emissions by 2050.
Currently, KenGen produces about 72% of the electricity consumed in Kenya, with over 80% of this being sourced from renewable sources.
