Evaluating Progress Since the Paris Agreement: The EU Green Deal's Impact on Climate Efforts Ahead of COP30

By Moraa Nyangorora

COP30, the EU Green Deal & a U.S. Exit — What They Mean for Global Climate Action

Kenyans observed Oct 10th to plant trees and clean the environment

The world soon meets in Belem, Brazil for COP30 in the face of three big climate narratives colliding: Europe’s bold Green Deal, America’s announced exit from the Paris Agreement under its new administration, and the urgency for global cooperation.

St Bakhita Primary School in Nairobi Kenya striving to create awareness on conservation through art

The European Green Deal, launched in 2019, is pushing Europe closer to becoming climate-neutral by 2050.

Through the deal, there have been major investments in renewables, adoption of stricter emissions laws, and support for a “just transition” to support communities affected by the shift.

Europe is sourcing nearly half its electricity from renewable sources — a signal that policy and investment can move the needle. Far from being perfect, the EU green deal is seen as providing a model for ambition, aligned with accountability.

Dampening this spirit, however, was the declaration and signing of Executive Order 14162 by the US President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and related climate commitments.

A move that derails and complicates climate finance commitments, especially when it comes to implementing global funding goals. Reuters

Although some states, cities and coalitions within the US are pledging to pursue Paris goals independently, the withdrawal affects the US influence in shaping global rules, policies and carbon markets. There is rising criticism of the move, with fears of a leadership vacuum that may be filled by the EU or China. Clean Air Task Force+2White & Case+2

The US withdrawal, thus, is perceived as raising the stakes for other players and making COP30's success more crucial.

COP30

The meeting of the Conference of the Parties is expected to review and update climate commitments (NDCs), negotiate finance for adaptation and loss & damage, and chart pathways for carbon markets.

However, many countries are behind on submitting their updated climate commitment, NDCs, and financing remains contentious. Le Monde.fr

Europe is anticipated to enter COP30 with its Green Deal credentials and ambitious climate laws as bargaining leverage.

Meanwhile, the U.S. absence will spotlight whether the global community can sustain momentum without one of its largest historical emitters.

For countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, COP30 offers both risk and opportunity:

• Risk: With weaker participation from large emitters, pressure may fall on developing nations to carry more burden.

• Opportunity: The EU (and possibly others) may deepen partnerships, technology transfer, and targeted climate finance to bridge gaps in trust and resources.

COP30 looms not just as another climate meeting, but as a turning point.

With the U.S. stepping back and Europe pressing forward, the world will watch whether climate diplomacy can hold together when even the “big players” falter.

Africa — including Kenya — must stay alert: engage boldly, demand accountability, and align climate diplomacy with local innovation and resilience.

Innovation, Colour, and Climate Hope: My Week at the Nairobi International Trade Fair

Kenya’s Resilience!

By Moraa Nyangorora

Walking into the Nairobi International Trade Fair 2025, the air was alive with energy, filled with crowds and school teams from across Kenya, enjoying the tours as others danced to the live music reverberating in the air — the kind only Kenya’s agricultural show can create.

The fair’s theme, “Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture and Trade for Sustainable Growth,” echoed through every display.

Vibrant flower beds at the Nairobi Trade Fair – a bloom of climate resilience.

From the colourful flower gardens bursting with marigolds and dahlias to neatly packaged grains, honey, yoghurt, and dried fruits, the fairground felt like a celebration of innovation rooted in soil and sun.

It was a reminder that agriculture here is not just about farming — it’s about identity, ingenuity, and survival in a warming world.

Innovation Meets Impact

Tucked between rows of exhibitors showcasing everything from tractors to irrigation systems, one booth pulled me in — Savanna Circuit Technologies,

A Kenyan start-up redefining how milk is cooled and transported in rural communities.

“We call it the Solar Thrive Solution Suite, it helps dairy farmers cool milk right at the source using solar energy — no diesel, no grid electricity, just the sun.”

The cooled milk is carried in lightweight stainless-steel cans, carefully balanced on electric motorcycles and solar-charged tuk-tuks — a simple yet brilliant logistics model for Kenya’s rural roads.

“We’ve seen up to a 40% reduction in milk losses in pilot areas,” the Savanna Circuit team explained. “Farmers say they no longer have to rush to deliver milk before it spoils — they can plan their days better.”

Beyond the Innovation

The trade fair was more than a showcase of technologies; it was a celebration of possibility.

From young entrepreneurs pitching agri-tech ideas to farmers proudly displaying hybrid crops, the optimism was infectious.

And as the sun dipped behind the fairgrounds, casting golden light over the flower beds, it was clear — Kenya’s future in agriculture is bright, innovative, and beautifully homegrown.

Restoring Soil: How technology Is Helping Kenyan Farmers Re-green Land

By Moraa Nyangorora

A locally driven innovation is changing the farming landscape in arid and semi arid areas prone to soil degradation. The mobile app developed by Kenyan environmental technologists and community groups is helping farmers map degraded land, track seedlings survival and connect with restoration partners.

This comes against a backdrop of a Heinrich Boll Foundation report that indicates only 20 pc of Kenya's crop land is suitable for food production under the current soil health conditions.

Kenya loses 26 tons per hectare of soil per year through soil erosion according to the report .

"Soil is the foundation of life, yet it is one of the most overlooked and undervalued resources. Its health influences the food we eat,the water we drink and the air we breathe"

Joachim Paul-Director Henirich Boll Foundation

The regreening application like the Kijani app is a response to the growing problem of soil degradation, which is directly linked to shrinking arable land and food security.

Launched in Kenya in October 2025 small scale farmers are empowered on how to re-green their land.

Our vision is to make re-greening accessible to everyone. The Kijani App provides digital training and farmer to farmer learning, empowering farmers to take action".

Justdiggit Communication team

A Green Idea For Africa

This application is designed to offer information and digital courses on proven methods to improve yields, soil health and livelihood resilience.

It made its debut in Tanzania where it achieved over 20,000 downloads with active user percentages and curricula on re-greening techniques.

"The Kijani App is good, as I have learned how to make compost manure and prevent soil erosion on my farm. My ambition is to be a model farmer by re-greening ,conserving the environment and protecting natural vegetation."

Jeremiah Jackson-Farmer Singida Tanzania

This Application was among the several climate smart initiatives show cased at the recent Trade Fair held at Nairobi Jamhuri Showground early October 2025.

The Kenya roll out is leveraging the same tool set applied in Tanzania and is working with partners like PELUM Kenya to access agro ecology networks according to Justdiggit representatives at the Trade Fair.

School teams among those who visited the 2025 Nairobi International Trade Fair

Technology access and digital literacy is an emerging challenge in the use of such Applications especially in areas where smallholder farmers may lack smart phones, data connectivity or are not tech savvy.

Digital training may also not translate into action, implementing may require inputs, labor, local context like soil type, rainfall access to seedlings which may vary from region to region.

“Our members are eager to use digital tools like Kijani to expand climate-smart agriculture. It helps bridge generational gaps — younger farmers learn easily through mobile platforms, while older farmers benefit from community-based demonstrations.”— PHYLLIS NDIINU (Interview

Why It Matters

Over 80% of Kenya’s rural population depends on agriculture for income and food security. Yet, Kenyas estimated Land Degradation Index (LDI) suggests approximately 30-35 % land area is degraded as of 2025.

The re-greening Apps like the Kijani one, attempts to offer a low-cost, scalable solution — turning a farmer’s mobile phone into a classroom for soil health, climate resilience, and sustainable farming.

“It’s like having a farming coach in my pocket. The lessons are short, simple, and in Kiswahili — I learn even while feeding my goats.”

Farmer, Kiambu County (Interview, 2025)

Kenya's Research Institute KALRO were among exhibitors at the Nairobi Trade Fair