According to National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Director General Mamo B. Mamo, the Kenyan government is accelerating the development of three key regulations to activate carbon markets. Following the recent Climate Change Act of 2016 amendment, governance measures for both carbon markets and non-markets have been established.

“This Act provides for the development of 4 subsidiary regulations namely the Carbon Markets Regulations, Carbon Trading Regulations, National Carbon Registry Regulations, and Non-Market Regulations,” said Mamo. President William Ruto signed the amended Act into law on September 1, 2023, and took effect two weeks later.

Mamo emphasized that the new Carbon Markets Regulations mark a crucial milestone towards establishing a fully operational carbon market in Kenya. Currently, the government is working on developing the National Carbon Registry, with supporting regulations to follow soon.

“The development of the National Carbon Registry is a significant journey that the country is embarking on,” Mamo noted, adding that the registry will promote transparency, enabling public access to information on mitigation activities and facilitating the management of carbon units. “The registry will help to prevent double counting and double issuance of emissions reductions and removals by making information about carbon units transparent,” he added.

As the designated National Authority for carbon markets, NEMA will serve as the central body for approving carbon projects, enforcing environmental and social safeguards, and monitoring projects. “This is a great step towards enhancing the flow of climate finance from developed countries to developing countries for the purposes of enhanced climate action,” Mamo stated, highlighting NEMA’s role as a “one-stop shop” for carbon project approvals.

Mamo made these remarks at a GIZ Kenya-supported workshop on the development of national carbon markets held on August 7, 2024.