Kenya is increasingly positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable development conversations, as demonstrated by a recent high-level forum hosted at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi on 24th March 2026.

Convened under the theme “The Green Transition: Global South Experiences,” the conference brought together leading voices from academia, government, civil society, and the private sector to examine how sustainability, sound policy, and responsible resource management can drive inclusive development across the region.

The concept of the green transition refers to the global shift from carbon-intensive economic systems toward environmentally sustainable and low-emission models of growth. Rooted in international frameworks such as the SDGs and the Paris Agreement, the transition emphasizes renewable energy, climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and equitable resource governance.

For countries in the Global South, including Kenya, this transition presents both an opportunity and a challenge to balance economic growth and poverty reduction with environmental conservation and climate action.

Resolutions emerging from the conference were: To strengthen and harmonize regulatory frameworks governing climate action and carbon market while ensuring equitable benefit-sharing for communities;  Empowering communities through capacity building and integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches to enhance inclusive participation; Strengthening governance structures, improve stakeholder coordination, and promote inclusive policy design, alongside fostering collaboration within the Global South to ensure that climate and development initiatives deliver meaningful benefits to local communities.

For KSG, this presents opportunity to promote its role in advancing an inclusive and locally grounded green transition by expanding capacity-building programmes on climate policy, carbon markets, and sustainable resource governance, while enhancing research, policy advisory, and multi-stakeholder engagement platforms.