Donald Trump, President of United States of America. Photo Aljazeera
The United States’ decision to withdraw from dozens of international organisations, including key climate change bodies, has triggered concern in Kenya and across the world, with experts warning of potential setbacks in climate financing, scientific cooperation and humanitarian support.
President Donald Trump’s administration has pulled the US out of 66 international organisations, nearly half of them linked to the United Nations. Among those affected are the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which underpins global climate negotiations, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world’s leading authority on climate science.
The White House says the withdrawals are intended to end US participation in institutions it accuses of promoting “globalist” and “radical climate agendas” that it argues do not serve American interests. However, climate experts warn that the move significantly weakens international cooperation at a time when climate-related disasters are intensifying, particularly in Africa.
The continent is already grappling with worsening droughts, floods and food insecurity, challenges that scientists say are being amplified by climate change. Reduced US engagement, analysts argue, could undermine global efforts to coordinate responses, share scientific data and mobilise resources for vulnerable countries.
In Kenya, the decision has raised alarm among policymakers and environmental groups. The country is regarded as a regional leader in renewable energy, with geothermal, wind and solar power accounting for a large share of its electricity generation. Kenya also depends heavily on international climate frameworks to access climate finance and technical assistance for adaptation and resilience projects.
Analysts caution that diminished US involvement could lead to a contraction in global climate funding, slowing initiatives aimed at protecting livelihoods in arid and semi-arid regions that are frequently hit by prolonged droughts. Such areas support millions of pastoralists and small-scale farmers who are highly vulnerable to climate shocks.
In December last year, Washington pledged about two billion dollars to UN humanitarian programmes, a figure significantly lower than previous contributions, while explicitly ruling out funding for climate-related projects. Critics say this signals a broader retreat from global climate responsibility.
While the US administration maintains that the policy shift is designed to safeguard national interests, observers across Africa warn that the wider consequences could be severe. As global commitments shrink, the debate continues over how developing countries can sustain climate action, secure financing and protect vulnerable communities in an increasingly uncertain international environment.