Recent Epson Climate Reality Barometer survey reveals most Kenyans view climate change as the number one global issue and are willing to invest in solutions like electric vehicles. Despite worries over severe droughts and disasters, many remain hopeful the climate emergency can still be overcome.
Climate Change Dominates as Kenya’s Foremost Global Concern
According to Epson’s 2023 Climate Reality Barometer, which surveyed over 30,000 respondents across 39 countries, climate change stands out as the most pressing global issue for 70.7% of Kenyans. This emphasis on climate change is much higher compared to the global figure of 55.3%.
For Kenya, climate change as the top concern reflects the devastating impact of worsening droughts and extreme weather. Livestock losses are estimated at 2.5 million animals, with the remaining 10 million livestock in arid regions suffering from lack of pasture and water.
Researchers have directly linked such disasters to climate change, projecting the costs for adaptation and compensation in Kenya to reach approximately $580 billion by 2030.
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After climate change, Kenyans cite rising prices (62.1%) and poverty (54.3%) as top worries. Emphasis on climate change is most pronounced among older Kenyans aged 30+ (74.4%) compared to the younger COP Generation under 30 (59.8%).
Widespread Optimism Among Kenyans for Overcoming Climate Crisis
Despite escalating climate change concerns, a high percentage of Kenyans (75.2%) express optimism that a climate catastrophe can still be averted within their lifetimes. This optimism is far higher compared to just 47% globally across all countries surveyed.
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The current level of climate optimism in Kenya is relatively unchanged from last year’s 76% in Epson’s 2022 survey. When asked about specific climate change sentiments for the next 12 months, 47.3% of Kenyans feel “Hopeful,” followed by 42.5% who are “Optimistic,” and 36.3% with “Positive” feelings.
Among Kenyans, the younger COP Generation under 30 (79%) remains slightly more optimistic than older respondents aged 30+ (74%). This indicates a persisting optimism across both younger and older generations.
Widespread Personal Actions Underway to Tackle Climate Crisis
Encouragingly, many Kenyans report they are already taking significant personal actions to mitigate climate change impacts. Top actions include using more reusable goods like shopping bags (89.4%), reducing plastic use (77.1%), and walking or cycling more often (69.9%).
Looking ahead, planned future climate actions include switching to electric vehicles (72.1%), pushing workplaces to adopt net-zero strategies (60.4%), and transitioning to renewable energy sources (53.4%).
Calls Mount for Corporations to Step Up with Climate Technology Investments
To confront climate change, Kenyans believe the most important steps for corporations are investing in environmental technologies (68.8%), improving recycling and reuse (57.5%), and encouraging employee participation in green activities (38.7%).
Globally, investing in green technologies is also viewed as the number one corporate climate action, followed by improving recycling, reducing resource use, promoting eco-activities, and offsetting carbon and plastic impacts.
Technology Seen as Indispensable Tool for Tackling Climate Emergency
The Climate Reality Barometer results reveal technology is overwhelmingly considered the most vital tool for effectively addressing catastrophic climate change worldwide.
Mukesh Bector, Epson’s Regional Head for East and West Africa, emphasizes technology’s crucial role in driving positive transformations while maintaining optimism that the climate crisis can still be overcome through concerted worldwide efforts.
Global Call to Action: United Front Needed to Avert Climate Catastrophe
The 2023 Epson Barometer highlights growing awareness internationally that climate change now stands out as the single most urgent issue facing humanity.
Epson’s President Yasunori Ogawa stresses that only through coordinated worldwide action across individuals, communities, corporations, technologies, governments and nations can we hope to meet and overcome the pressing climate change challenge.
While remaining optimistic, Ogawa cautions that this optimism should not constrain full commitment toward meaningful steps to avert environmental catastrophe through immediate, decisive climate action.
