Strengthening Local Climate Governance: Insights From Nairobi’s Subnational Government Stocktake

Abstract

Background: Effective climate governance requires a deep understanding of individual cities. This paper delves into the complexities and disparities within the City of Nairobi, providing an overview that sets the stage for an in-depth examination of its local climate governance. The focus lies on the role of local stocktakes in shaping global stocktake processes, drawing lessons from Nairobi subnational government local stocktake. Methods: A comprehensive literature review on global stocktakes and their local relevance was conducted. Additionally, a participatory approach was applied, drawing on insights from the Nairobi subnational government local stocktake workshop. This event included representatives from all 85 Nairobi wards and stakeholders from 11 Kenyan counties, including youth, children, people with disabilities, and other key groups. Results: Findings are organized around three guiding questions from the Nairobi workshop: (a) Where are we? This assessed urban resilience, existing urban plans, air pollution, emissions mapping, and adaptation efforts. (b) Where do we want to go? This highlighted the need for digitized inventories, improved urban planning, and air pollution management. (c) How do we get there? This presented recommendations on policy, governance, and financing to strengthen climate governance. Conclusion: Nairobi has made notable progress in addressing climate challenges but still faces gaps and opportunities. Lessons from Nairobi’s local stocktake provide valuable insights for other cities, emphasizing the importance of local contributions to global climate processes. This paper offers best practices to support informed decision-making and foster collaboration for effective climate governance worldwide.