President William Ruto has been named to the prestigious TIME 100 list for 2024, recognized for his emerging role as a key voice advocating for Africa’s climate action agenda on the global stage.
In its profile, TIME highlighted Ruto’s efforts to host a landmark climate summit in Nairobi last September, which concluded with a historic agreement from African nations to rapidly scale up renewable energy deployment over the next decade. The event also yielded $23 billion in pledges from international donors to help catalyze the continent’s climate goals.
“President Ruto has emerged as a powerful champion for climate justice in Africa,” the TIME profile stated. “His ability to rally African leaders around ambitious clean energy targets, while also pressing for debt relief to free up resources for climate solutions, has elevated his influence on the global stage.”
The accolade comes amid a mix of both domestic and international successes and challenges for the Kenyan leader. While Ruto has garnered praise for his climate diplomacy, he has also faced protests at home over the rising cost of living and his government’s policies, including a contentious gas tax increase.
Ruto has also called for lenders to provide debt relief to African countries, arguing that it would free up critical resources to invest in renewable energy, climate adaptation, and other green development initiatives.
