World Wetlands Day 2023: “Climate Justice is a collective responsibility that calls action from every one of us”

As the world prepares to celebrate the World Wetlands Day held on 2^nd February every year, Anne Tek, the Kenya Platform for Climate Governance (KPCG) called the community for a collective action for the safety of the planet and the future generations. She shared the call in a one-day conference held in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County. The conference attracting 40 community members from across the region. The Kenya Platform for Climate Governance (KPCG) is one of continental National Platforms coalescing under Pan African Climate Justice Alliance( PACJA).

Statistics show that nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and also recording the loss of wetlands three times faster than forests. Yet, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies, and more. According to UN, Coastal wetlands sequester and store carbon up to 55 times faster than tropical rain forests. And also Wetlands provide a buffer against the impacts of floods, droughts, hurricanes and tsunamis, and build resilience to climate change. It is from this while speaking to participants, Anne Tek, the National Coordinator for the Kenya National Platform said that “Climate Justice is a collective responsibility that calls action from every one of us. When we know better, we do better and that way we can ensure sustainability of the projects and initiatives we undertake whilst ensuring a secure future for the planet and future generations”, before adding that the platform is committed to ensuring that communities are empowered to continually build their resilience, adapt and mitigate toward the effects of climate change.

David Businei the regional coordinator for the KPCG NOREB platform emphasized that “It is urgent that we raise national and global awareness about wetlands in order to reverse their rapid loss and encourage actions to conserve and restore them.” Key activities planned on actual World Wetlands Day on February 2^nd include both raising awareness and educating the community on the importance and relevance of Wetlands and climate action. Community members including but not limited to university students, women, children, youth, farmers, pastoralists, fisher folks are expected to join KPCG in celebrations of the day.

About world wetlands Day

World Wetlands Day, is celebrated annually on 2 February, aims to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and planet. The day was adopted on 30 August 2021, by the UN General Assembly which proclaimed 2 February as World Wetlands Day to raise awareness of the urgency of reversing the accelerating loss of wetlands and to promote their conservation and restoration. The day marks the date of the adoption of the “Convention on Wetlands of International Importance” held in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.