This archive report was first published on 13 July 2019.
On July 13, 2019, climate change activist Mithika Mwenda was recognized for his environmental conservation efforts with the prestigious Sierra Club's Earth Care Award 2019.
Mwenda, the executive director of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), was selected for the award for his significant contribution to international environmental protection and conservation.
He is best known for assembling broad stakeholder consultations that brought together government, private sector, and civil society leaders, resulting in the Climate Change Act being enacted by Parliament in 2016.
The Climate Change Act mainstreams the mitigation of global warming in Kenya's development plans.
According to a statement released by PACJA, Mwenda will be presented with the award on September 14 at the Marriott Oakland City Center in Oakland, California, United States.
Sierra Club presents the Earth Care Award annually to honour individuals or organisations that make unique contributions to international environmental protection and conservation.
“You were nominated for this award by the Sierra Club’s International Environmental Justice Team in recognition of your work with the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA),” Ellen Davis, the Sierra Club Honours and Awards Committee chair, wrote to Mwenda in a congratulatory message.
Just two weeks prior to the award, the National Environment Tribunal stopped the controversial Lamu coal project in a landmark case.
Mwenda has also been named one of the world’s top 100 most influential people on climate policy by Apolitical, a London-based network that ranks global leaders in various fields based on the best governance practices.
