Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening climate cooperation with Switzerland after a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Belém, Brazil.
The discussion focused on advancing the Kenya – Switzerland Implementing Agreement under ongoing bilateral climate action efforts.
During the meeting with Dr. Deborah Barasa, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Switzerland, represented by Climate Policy Adviser Simon Fellermeyer, outlined key considerations from the Klik Foundation, which supports international mitigation activities.
The Swiss delegation requested clarity on Kenya’s authorisation process for Article 6 projects, including the information required at the initial application stage and the need for certainty once mitigation outcomes are issued.
Switzerland also requested guidance on the expected timelines for authorisation, noting that prolonged uncertainty could affect project development and investment confidence.
Additionally, they raised questions on whether Kenya could issue a Letter of Authorisation (LOA) ahead of final investment commitments.
Kenya emphasised that all authorisations will follow a structured, transparent, and sequential process designed to ensure predictability for investors and project proponents.
Officials underscored that the Implementing Agreement itself is a formal commitment that provides robust assurance to partners engaging in mitigation activities within the country.
The Designated National Authority further clarified that any conditions tied to an LOA, whether under a bilateral framework or specific to an individual project, will be fully documented.
The provisions may be included both on the main document and, where necessary, on its reverse side to ensure complete transparency.
The Kenyan delegation was led by the Cabinet Secretary and included Forest Development Secretary George Tarus and Ms. Ann Omambia of National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Kenya. The team reiterated Kenya’s commitment to strengthening climate partnerships that accelerate sustainable development and unlock high-integrity climate investments. The engagement marks another step forward in deepening Kenya–Switzerland cooperation under the Article 6 framework of the Paris Agreement.
