Kenya has outlined a new national strategy that will require $45 billion in international support—largely through carbon trading and investment—to meet its updated emissions reduction goals for the 2031–2035 period.
An African woman prepares a meal using an energy-efficient cookstove with a backyard in the background. AI generated picture.
The updated plan, formally submitted to the UN on 30 April, commits the country to a 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared to a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario. This is a step up from its previous target of a 32% cut by 2030, set in 2020.
The total funding required for the full package of emissions reduction and environmental resilience measures is estimated at $56 billion. According to the government, 20% of this can be met through domestic resources, while the remaining 80% depends on external support, including ‘finance, investments, technology development and transfer, and capacity building, as well as participation in carbon markets’, said Deborah Barasa, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Forestry & related sectors.
The goal translates into a reduction of 75.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) from the projected 215 million tCO₂e by 2035. Of this total, 15 million tonnes are deemed ‘unconditional’, meaning they will be delivered regardless of outside funding. The remaining 60 million tonnes hinge on securing sufficient backing from global markets and mechanisms.
Kenya’s updated strategy is being closely watched by those operating in carbon trading markets, particularly under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The document provides early indications of how Kenya may allocate emissions reductions between domestic use and international cooperation through market-based instruments.
Key focus areas for investment include clean energy solutions across transport, agriculture, industry, and households; low-emission transportation systems; sustainable land use through afforestation and agroforestry; and improved waste management and agricultural practices.
Read more: DGB’s cookstove projects: How they truly make a difference
To support its role in international markets, Kenya plans to maintain a regularly updated list of priority sectors—referred to as a ‘whitelist’—and to set annual implementation targets. These efforts aim to align the emissions strategy with the country’s long-term ambition of achieving middle-income status.
Although Kenya is a leading player in Africa’s carbon project development, the government is proceeding carefully, mindful of not overcommitting to reductions that could undermine domestic goals. A regulatory framework covering credit authorisation under Article 6 is still under review, with no firm date for finalisation.
Read more: Netherlands backs largest CCS project and commits millions to carbon removal
Kenya’s renewed focus on international partnerships and nature-based solutions underscores a global shift toward meaningful, scalable environmental action. At DGB, we develop high-impact projects—ranging from clean cookstoves to large-scale reforestation—that do more than reduce emissions; They restore ecosystems, empower communities, and deliver measurable results. As countries like Kenya open the door to global investment through mechanisms like Article 6, the opportunity to drive real change has never been greater.
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