Climate change is already affecting millions. Within the past couple of months, many nations in Africa including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia have faced drastic changes in climate patterns. From experiencing brutal floods to unbearable droughts, many African citizens have endured the consequences of climate change to a large extent. Kenya is undergoing a devastating drought and the President, Uhuru Kenyatta, has asked other nations and people from the rest of the world for assistance.
BBC News reports, “Kenya’s Red Cross says 2.7 million people face starvation if more help is not provided.” Agricultural practices are extremely valuable in the country as many Kenyans rely on them for food and for jobs. A nation’s overall wealth tends to be determined by examining multiple factors, one of largest being the country’s Gross Domestic Product. In Kenya, a significant portion of the GDP consists of natural grown products as Our Africa writes, “Agricultural products such as tea, coffee, fruits, vegetables and fresh flowers make up the majority of Kenya’s exports.” Thus, climate change is severely damaging Kenya’s economy and as a result, several Kenyans cannot physically grow crops and raise livestock or afford to purchase imported food products.
While it is clear that donating to Kenya and offering money is the immediate action to take, it is of course, a temporary solution. Further action involves addressing that climate change is the root of the devastation and brainstorming ways in which we could combat climate change while helping the economy flourish. Maintaining a balance between offering aid to an urgent situation and dedicating time for planning and research to tackle the larger and long term issue at hand is an extremely difficult yet vital process leaders must pursue. As a denizen of planet Earth, you can donate and purchase local Kenyan products to help the crisis. You can also, perhaps more beneficial in the long run, conduct independent research on climate change and Kenya’s economy and think of, discover, or innovate a new way to simultaneously help weather patterns to stabilize and help the economy thrive.
Finding a solution may seem idealistic but when more individuals, extending beyond the pool of scientists and economists are independently willing to get creative and propose methods they think would be healthy for the long run, the sooner Kenya’s natural disaster can recover.
Altogether, what is happening in Kenya in terms of the drought is not surprising. As many parts of Africa are seeing dramatic swings in terms of climate, it is time policy makers place issues of life and death at the top of their lists. It is also important for local politicians including mayors and governors of various states in the U.S. to work with local scientists and other concerned individuals to help design a potential solution to the problem.
