13 November 2026 - Kenya's Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative have signed a Record of Minutes of Deliberations on entering into a Partnership, signaling greater collaboration on pathways for a just transition and an equitable phase-out of fossil fuels. The Record of Minutes, signed on the sidelines of the UN climate talks (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, expounds on discussions and steps necessary to establish a framework of cooperation in key areas, including supporting dialogue and exchange on the development of the proposed Fossil Fuel Treaty, technical cooperation on just energy transitions, climate finance and economic diversification, capacity building and knowledge exchange, and strengthening Kenya’s participation in international discussions on an equitable global transition away from fossil fuels.

The Record of Minutes follow Kenya’s continued engagement with the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, including participation in technical meetings and high-level dialogues convened by the Initiative and in the First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels held in Santa Marta, Colombia, in April this year. At the national level, Kenya has also hosted a series of national dialogues to deliberate on the global transition and the proposal for a Fossil Fuel Treaty, while its County Governments are among hundreds of subnational governments worldwide who support the call for a Fossil Fuel Treaty.

Dr Eng. Isaac Kiva, MBS, Secretary for Renewable Energy in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Republic of Kenya: “We are pleased to sign the Record of Minutes, which builds on years of our engagement with the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative to explore how our nation can shape and benefit from just transition pathways grounded in international cooperation, including the proposed Fossil Fuel Treaty. Having seen the socio-economic impacts of our reliance on fossil fuels on our economy and our people, we view partnership with the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative as an opportunity to strengthen our preparedness for the transition and ensure we have the support we need to transition fairly while advancing our development priorities. Our continent has the opportunity to drive the transition, and we believe that the proposed Fossil Fuel Treaty can galvanise the international cooperation needed for a fair, financed global shift from fossil fuels.

Alex Rafalowicz, Executive Director, Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative: “We are pleased to take this next step in our collaboration with Kenya, a country whose renewable energy leadership inspires hope in what is possible for our world. Kenya has continued to engage constructively on just transition pathways, including the proposed Fossil Fuel Treaty, and its contributions are helping to shape the foundation of an international instrument that addresses the structural barriers to the transition, including finance, technical support, and public debt. We look forward to working alongside Kenya and the growing bloc of like-minded countries to advance an instrument that is grounded in equity and justice and reflects the needs and priorities of developing nations."

While Kenya is a regional leader in renewable energy, the country’s reliance on fossil fuel imports has exposed the economy to global fuel price shocks and high import bills. This has significantly impacted foreign currency reserves, deepened debt, constrained public finances, and limited fiscal space for investments in essential public services and the expansion of renewable energy.

The enhanced collaboration comes at a critical moment, as the global energy crisis exposes the danger of fossil fuel dependence and underscores the urgency of accelerating the shift to renewable energy. For Kenya, strengthening international cooperation for an equitable transition is an opportunity to reduce exposure to volatile fuel markets and advance energy sovereignty and economic independence.