Nurturing climate information and environmental responsibility from schools to communities: Machakos County’s ClimSA Project
By Paula Machio with contributions from the IGAD Climate Change Technical Working Group
Our planet faces an unprecedented triple threat: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. These crises threaten the environment and jeopardize fundamental child rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), including health, safety, a healthy environment, and quality education.
Education plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges. Integrating climate information and environmental sustainability into school curricula is a practical approach. This empowers children as learners and agents of change, extending their knowledge to their communities. Schools are powerful platforms for shaping the attitudes and behaviors of future generations, instilling a lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship. Hands-on activities, eco-friendly initiatives, and interactive learning experiences can nurture a sense of environmental responsibility and equip children with the tools and confidence to become active participants in creating a sustainable future.
The Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) program, funded by the European Union and led by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), aims to improve climate services and mainstream climate information into policymaking at all levels. This initiative, designed to build resilient communities, is piloting community engagement in Uganda and Kenya. Machakos County in Kenya, classified as semi-arid land, was chosen due to its commitment to environmental conservation. The county’s robust framework for sustainability involves schools and communities, making it an ideal pilot location.
A remarkable initiative within the project’s implementation in Machakos County is a large-scale tree planting campaign aligned with the National Tree Planting Initiative to attain 15 billion trees planted by 2032. This initiative, which commenced at Mumbuni Primary School in February 2023, has seen a 100% survival rate for the planted trees, a testament to the school’s dedication and the project’s effectiveness. What makes this initiative unique is the assignment of each student a tree to nurture, instilling a sense of environmental responsibility from a young age and fostering collective efforts towards a greener environment. The active participation of teachers and pupils alike emphasizes the collective effort to create a greener and healthier environment. The decision to work closely with local communities, especially schools, highlights the project’s emphasis on sustainability at the grassroots level. Engaging young minds in environmental stewardship benefits the immediate surroundings and molds a generation of eco-conscious citizens capable of driving positive change on a larger scale.
The project has seen remarkable success at Mumbuni Primary School, with a 100% survival rate for the planted trees. Ms. Catherine, the school principal, expressed pride in the thriving trees, which have become a central focus of the school’s activities. The school’s dedication extends beyond the pilot program, as they’ve designated additional land for future plantings.
However, a significant challenge looms. Located in a livestock-rearing community, the trees planted face the risk of being destroyed by livestock due to a lack of fencing. Ms. Catherine, the school principal, highlighted the urgent need for securing funding to protect the trees and transform the school landscape before the next batch of 1000 trees are planted. Addressing these challenges and securing resources are crucial to sustaining and expanding the positive impact of environmental initiatives at Mumbuni Primary School. The success of these initiatives and the future of the school’s environmental stewardship depend on the support of our partners and donors. “If I manage to get a sponsor who will help us fence the field, I promise that in the next year, we will have a different picture of Mumbuni, and in 5 years, this place will be completely transformed,” said Ms. Catherine.
A key highlight from our discussions was the concerted effort to downscale climate information, championed by Machakos County Director of Meteorological Services, Mr. Kyalo Dominic. This approach ensures climate knowledge transcends technical spheres and becomes integrated into everyday life. By bringing climate information to schools and communities within the county, starting with the pilot school, ICPAC through ClimSA is empowering the community to be the agents of climate information. This approach fosters a culture of climate-informed decision-making and proactive adaptation to climate change challenges at the community level. It's a testament to the importance of community involvement in ensuring that the majority of the population in the county has access to timely and reliable climate information.
Machakos County's success with the ClimSA project offers a beacon of hope. By empowering communities with climate information and fostering environmental stewardship in schools, the project equips future generations to combat climate change and build a sustainable future. Ms. Catherine's confidence in the project's transformative potential echoes the need for continued support to ensure its long-term impact. Let's cultivate a culture of care for our environment, starting in classrooms and extending far and wide.
