On March 4, 2025, The Star reported that Kenya is pursuing partnerships for carbon trading under climate change agreements.
In the story titled, “Kenya, Singapore to sign bilateral environmental agreements,” The Star quoted Environment Principal Secretary Festus Ng’eno stating that Kenya is pursuing bilateral agreements with Singapore, Switzerland and Sweden for carbon credit trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
“The bilateral agreements would enable Kenya to achieve its emissions targets set out in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) while promoting sustainable development and environmental integrity,” the paper reported.
Journalists have a responsibility to simplify complex climate policies for their audiences. For clarity’s sake, the article should have defined NDCs, explained Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and highlighted its real-life relevance once implemented through programmes or projects.
Journalists should also provide background information on climate change and highlight the significance of carbon markets in supporting immediate climate action plans, especially in ways that impact the daily lives of ordinary people.
Writing a story is like having a conversation; a journalist should use engaging statements that capture the reader’s attention. Readers grasp information more easily when it is linked to familiar concepts, helping them recall what they already know, have heard, or read before. This approach makes your storytelling more engaging and relevant.
Back to NDCs, this refers to action plans by individual countries that are used to direct on goals for reducing gases that pollute the atmosphere. These gases, which include carbon dioxide and methane, are also called Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). When released into the air, they accumulate and contribute to global warming.
Each nation sets emission reduction goals based on specific targets to mitigate climate change. Climate change is driven by the gradual rise in global temperatures, leading to changes in weather patterns.
This phenomenon is already evident in various parts of the world, including Kenya, as was the case during the March-May 2024 heavy rains that caused severe flooding in at least 24 counties, according to the National Floods Emergency Response Secretariat formed to respond to the problem.
Recognising the threat that rising global temperatures pose to humanity and the planet, the Paris Agreement came into force on November 4, 2016. It introduced landmark commitments, including limiting global warming to 1.5–2°C above pre-industrial levels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and supporting developing countries in adapting to climate change.
Carbon credits and carbon markets are key mechanisms that countries can use to support climate action. As The Star reported, “the carbon crediting mechanism identifies and encourages opportunities for verifiable emission reductions, attracts funding to implement them, and allows cooperation among countries and other groups to conduct and benefit from these activities.”
This approach is backed by Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which enables countries to collaborate in reducing emissions and achieving climate targets. It also allows nations to trade emission reductions or mitigation units with each other.
As for carbon credit, it refers to a unit of value, that a country, organisation, community or individual can be awarded for activities that reduce or eliminate carbon emissions. For example, under this mechanism, a company in one country can reduce emissions, have those reductions credited, and sell them to a company in another country, The Star explained.
Some of the press releases provided by the technical teams in the ministries concerning climate change, who from their perspective understand the subject matter very well, lack clarity on some of the statements.
If a journalist does not have the right information, the reader, viewer or listener will be misinformed.
According to The Star, the meeting provided a platform for sharing experiences on climate change policies, carbon markets, green transition efforts, and the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
However, climate change remains a relatively complex subject. Journalists, particularly those covering environmental and health issues, require training for effective reporting. Additionally, researching the topic will make it more accessible and understandable.
