Role of the Catholic Church in Mitigating Effects of Climate Change in West Pokot County, Kenya

Climate change presents a global challenge that intensively affects vulnerable regions like West Pokot County, Kenya, where communities depend heavily on climate-sensitive livelihoods. While technical and policy-oriented approaches to climate change mitigation have received substantial attention, the potential role of religious institutions remains underexplored, especially in the African context. This study investigated the role of the Catholic Church in mitigating the effects climate change in West Pokot County, Kenya. Specifically, the research (i) analyzed trends in climatic variables in West Pokot County between 1990 and 2023, (ii) established the Catholic Church perceptions on drivers of climate change in West Pokot County and (iii) determined the Catholic Church activities that mitigate the effects of climate change in West Pokot County. The research employed a descriptive design with a mixed-methods approach, collecting data from 261 parishioners across 18 Catholic parishes through questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions, and Key Informant Interviews, direct observations, and document analysis. Climatic data was derived from Climate Hazards Center InfraRed Precipitation with Station Data (CHIRPS). Over a 34-year period, precipitation revealed an annual increase of 6.31 mm with the highest annual increase of 2.49mm being recorded in MAM and the lowest annual increase of 0.46mm mm being recorded in DJF. JJA and SON recorded an annual increase of 1.52mm and 2.69mm respectively. Maximum temperatures (Tmax) and Minimum Temperature (Tmin) recorded an annual increase of 1.13⁰C. Based on the Catholic Church, the major drivers of Climate Change were stewardship failure with 87.8% followed by human activities with 69.8% then economic drivers and poverty linkages with 63.2%, climate change as a consequence of sin with 50.2% and eschatological interpretations with 41.4%. The major activities adopted by the Catholic Church for climate change mitigation include, afforestation and reafforestation (70.1%), sustainable agricultural practices (60.2%), environmental education (51.7%), environmental policy development 41% and church partnership 39.8%. The findings indicate that religious beliefs play a crucial role in driving and shaping community responses to climate change. The study concludes that an integrated approach is essential, combining spiritual and practical responses to effectively address climate change impacts. The study recommends strengthening climate education programs within church, promoting sustainable agricultural practices through community-based projects, and fostering partnerships with NGOs and government.