The Department of Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change on Thursday kicked off the training of the Ward Climate Change Planning Committees ( WCCPC).

Speaking while opening the training forum, Deputy Director of Environment and Climate Change Philip Lagat urged the team to be at the forefront in initiating and implementing climate change initiatives in the community.

“You are our ambassadors at the grassroots on matters of climate change especially in building the resilience of the community,” added Lagat.

On his part, Ag Director Livestock Abraham Kiptanui who acquainted them with the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programs, challenged them to take personal responsibility to learn and understand issues of climate change for them to represent their communities effectively.

The priority investment areas include afforestation, desilting of dams, protection of wetlands, drainage improvement, upgrading of health centres, adoption of climate-smart technologies, and water harvesting among other key areas based on the relevant sectors including Agriculture, Environment, Water, infrastructure and disaster risk management.

The first ward committees trained included Kimumu, Langas, Kapsoya and Huruma Wards.