- Slightly more than half (53%) of Kenyans say they have heard of climate change, a 17-percentage-point drop from 70% in 2019 (Figure 1).
- Climate-change awareness is higher among men (59%) and urbanites (57%) than among women (46%) and rural residents (50%) (Figure 2). More educated and economically better-off citizens are more likely to be aware of climate change than those with less education and lower economic status.
- Among Kenyans who are aware of climate change: More than eight in 10 (83%) say it is making life in Kenya worse, an 11-percentage- point increase from 2019 (Figure 3).
- Among Kenyans who are aware of climate change: Three-fourths (76%) believe that ordinary citizens can help curb climate change, while eight in 10 (81%) want the government to take immediate action to limit climate change, even if it is expensive, causes job losses, or takes a toll on the economy (Figure 4).
- Among Kenyans who are aware of climate change: Only very small minorities are satisfied with efforts to date by the government (2%), business and industry (4%), developed countries (6%), and ordinary citizens (8%) to fight climate change (Figure 5).
- Among Kenyans who are aware of climate change: Most assign primary responsibility for fighting climate change and reducing its impact to ordinary citizens (44%) or to the government (43%) (Figure 6).
A large majority of Kenyans believe that citizens and the government have a role to play in mitigating adverse impact of climate change.
However, only a slim majority of Kenyans (53%) have heard of climate change and of those who are aware of climate change, overwhelming majority say it is making life in the country worse.
Climate change awareness is highest among men than women, the urbanites and those with post-secondary education qualification.
According to the Kenya National Climate Change Action Plan (2018-2022), it is probable that climate change will negatively impact Kenya’s future development and achievement of the development goals enshrined in the Kenya Vision 2030 – the long- term development blueprint – and the Government’s Big Four Agenda that focuses on ensuring food and nutrition security, affordable and decent housing, increased manufacturing, and affordable health care.
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