Governors warned carbon credits might affect communities

Carbon credits have had negative effects on some nations by creating a system where wealthier countries can avoid making substantial emissions reductions.
Rather than addressing the root causes of pollution, they can buy credits from poorer nations or offset their emissions through questionable projects.
In developing nations, carbon credit schemes sometimes lead to exploitation, where local communities face displacement for conservation projects or suffer from inadequate environmental safeguards.
Additionally, the reliance on carbon credits can divert attention from the need for structural changes in energy, transportation, and industry, ultimately delaying the global transition to sustainable practices.
The current pursuit of carbon credits risks displacing communities, Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali has raised concerns.
There is a rush for investors to come and exploit resources
“But the policies around these carbon credits are not very clear. The local people don’t know about what policies are regulating that sector, therefore they take a lot of our land, they squeeze, they grab, you know take advantage of the ignorance of the local communities,” Ali explained.
He is in Azerbaijan for climate talks and was among key guests who took part in a CoP29 side event dubbed, ‘Enhancing resilience by integrating energy transition in adaptation strategies’, organised by Kenya Climate Change Working Group.
Other guests included Devolution PS Teresia Mbaika and Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo, who is also the chairperson of the Environment and Climate Change Committee of the Council of Governors.
The ongoing talks at Baku have agreed on the International Carbon Market Standards.
Ali said efforts must be made to raise awareness among the local communities to understand carbon credits.
“Well, we’ve tried in our own way to educate our people and for those who come to us, we have to take them through the process, but then I’m not talking about only my county for that matter. I’m talking about the region generally.”
Marsabit county, just like other Asal areas, has been impacted by climate change.
Article 6 is a key part of the Paris Agreement on climate change focuses on the development of carbon market places where countries, companies and individuals can trade what are known as greenhouse gas emissions credits.
The government recently published the Climate Change (Carbon Markets) Regulations, 2024, established under the Climate Change Act (Cap. 387A).
The regulations state that land based projects must allocate 40 per cent of their earnings to community development.
Ali has been advocating for the unpacking of Article 6 of Paris Agreement regarding climate change so that policies are clear and it’s implementation sustainable for the people to maximumly benefit.