Building resilient climate: EAC legal responses to climate change as a pathway to sustainable development

In response to the climate change issue, which is now the most severe problem affecting the environment and people's livelihoods, as well as the economy of most regions. The East African Community (EAC) has set up a legal and policy framework for addressing climate change-related issues affecting sustainable development. Despite the EAC regional laws, there is still a persistent threat of climate change in the region, thereby limiting sustainable development as it concerns the agricultural and other economic sectors. Hence, the research aims to make a detailed examination of the EAC regional climate change laws from the perspective of their scope and effectiveness, in addressing climate change and their compatibility with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to propose legal reforms together with other options. The research is conducted using a doctrinal approach which follows the PRISMA framework and meticulously surveys EAC treaties, protocols, policies, and related scholarly literature. The results indicate that EAC regional laws are increasingly demonstrating sustainability, cooperation, and environmental protection characteristics, thereby becoming closer to the SDGs 13, 15, and 17. Additionally, if the law is improved to have more effect, paths for implementation, improving monitoring systems, and further engagement in SDG blending, it will definitely aid sustainable development, irrespective of climate change. The research concludes with the proposal of more profound harmonisation, more explicit implementation mechanisms, and more robust institutional coordination at the regional level.