MP Salasya Talking About Climate Change Will Make Your Head Hurt
Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya is openly discussing climate change, or rather what he thinks it means.
On the sidelines of the Africa Climate Summit that kicked off at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi on Monday, Salasya gave a quick interview to YouTube channel SPM Buzz, in which he was asked to briefly explain what the convention is all about.
After several uuuhs and uuums, he begins; “As we are all aware, it’s that, it’s climate change because you find that, by the way, climate change is real because of the global warming.”
The legislator decides to give it another take, this time with an anecdote of a recent experience he says he had in Mombasa.
“I was in Mombasa last week, and it was so cold. I asked them, what is happening? They told me the sun has become too much and the ice is melting, and so when it melts, that thing becomes cold,” he said.
“Global climate is real and whatever people are going to be told here, if they are going to implement, well, for the sake of the country.”
A man standing beside Salasya, who seems to be one of his aides, begins suppressing laughter. The interview goes on nonetheless and the MP is asked how he is championing climate action.
“We are representative of the rural constituencies who mostly use firewood (for cooking) and now we are advocating for the use of Koko Jiko and those other types of gas, but the people don’t have money. We are hoping the government will come up with measures, like the reduction of cooking gas prices,” he says, at what point the man beside him trails away laughing quietly.
Salasya is then asked whether he has a plan he could propose to help African governments combat climate change.
“We have a plan we are going to submit and see how they can be funded and implemented,” the legislator says, adding that he is also looking for an electric car similar to what the president has been riding to the summit.
The inaugural Africa Climate Summit goes on until Wednesday under the theme “Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World.”
The convention was organized by the African Union Commission in collaboration with Kenya and is set to give African nations the chance to develop specific plans, design corresponding resources and investments, push for changes in the global financial system, share knowledge and workable solutions, and update Africa’s development and climate vision.
What is climate change?
The United Nations describes climate change as long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns due to either natural causes, such as changes in the sun’s activity and large volcanic eruptions, or human activities.
Human activities have however been the main driver of climate change since the 1800s, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, the UN says.
Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.
The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane, which come from gasoline-powered vehicles or the use of coal for example.
Additionally, clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide.
On the other hand, agriculture, oil, and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions, with energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture, and land use among the main sectors causing greenhouse gases.
MP Salasya Talking About Climate Change Will Make Your Head Hurt