The Environment for Development Kenya carried out a population survey to find out whether green measures for plastics, forest loss, and fossil fuels are socially acceptable. To spread the findings and raise awareness the center organized a workshop with important stakeholders.
The workshop was held on 14th July 2022 and had over 60 participants. During the workshop, the stakeholders were asked to complete the survey that had been given to the general public before the conference, and then the results were compared.
Acceptability varies greatly
The survey showed that over 55% of the public and of the stakeholders support a ban as well as a fee or tax for cutting trees in public and communal forests. However, a good number of the public (28% and 31% respectively) oppose a ban or a fee or tax on the production, sale, and consumption/use of charcoal.
It also indicated that a solid majority of the public (79%) and of the stakeholders (76%) support the ban on the use of plastic bags. They also support limiting the use of single-use plastics. However, only a few stakeholders were in favor of increasing the price of single-use plastic.
Finally, over 60 % of the public were highly against decreasing the use of fossil fuels by putting in place a limit on how much households can buy, raising the prices of fossil fuels by introducing a tax, and increasing the price of fossil fuels by reducing subsidies. But, from the stakeholder standpoint, less than 13% of them supported the mentioned green measures.
Social acceptance is important
The stakeholders stated that social acceptability is important as it accommodates the interests of various stakeholders, makes policy implementation easier, helps to eliminate corruption, and is crucial for sustainability.
Actions are needed to boost support
Stakeholders also expressed that in order to increase support for Inclusive Green Economy (IGE) policy instruments there needs to be
- Provision of alternatives on banned items or goods
- Creation of awareness on pollution and climate change issues
- Availability of financial resources
- Inclusivity in policy formulation processes
- Political goodwill
- Collaboration and partnership between state and non-state actors
- Technology innovation
- Alignment of IGE instruments with existing government Vision 2030 and Medium Term Plans (MTPs )
- Inclusion of IGE component in the school curriculum
- Gender gap analysis of the policy instruments
“Our behaviors need to change in order to influence climate change positively,” commented Sarah Njau of Vints plastics.
|
In attendance were stakeholders from:
|
By: Jane Maina.
