Adapting to a Warmer Earth

During his inaugural speech, Kenyan environment minister Kivutha Kibwana said "Climate change is rapidly emerging as one of the most serious threats that humanity may ever face."

Climate experts meeting in the Kenyan capital have stated that there is need for concerted action to tackle the rising problem.

Adaptation Projects

Briefing journalists, United Nations Framework Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) executive secretary Yvo de Boer said that the meeting had started on a positive note. Delegates were discussing climate change adaptation issues and how to tackle problems associated with greenhouse gases in their respective countries.

"People have been adapting to changing climate conditions and extreme weather events such as droughts and floods. Most of these traditional coping strategies have been developed for agriculture and water resources given their importance for people's livelihoods," de Boer said. He added that there are a number of adaptation projects funded under the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Their strategic Priority for Adaptation and the Special Climate Change Fund are aimed at a number of impacted sectors. These include agriculture, coastal zone health, and ecosystems.

De Boer told journalists that the adaptation fund had been instituted to implement strategies that will mitigate climate change. He disclosed that US$3 million was available for countries to embark on projects that are expected to be environmentally friendly.

A Focus on Developing Countries

Saleemul Huq is the head of climate change at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). In an interview, he said that his organization, a non-governmental policy research institute, focuses on climate change issues especially in the least developed countries.

IIED is involved in three major areas. The first is the reduction and mitigation of greenhouse gases emission. Then there is the building of negotiation skills of negotiators before and after conferences have been held. This is done to hone their effectiveness. Finally, IIED is assisting the least developed countries on issues related to climate and working with communities to adapt to climate change.

"IIED is a policy research institute that is involved in projects in East and Central Africa, including Francophone Africa. We help to build skills of negotiators in these countries especially on climate change adaptation issues," Hug said in an interview on the sidelines of the conference.

The Economic and Health Impacts

"Studies have shown that Africa is warming at 0.05 degrees Celsius per decade. The warming at this pace may go up to 7.5 degrees Celsius by 2100. With climate change untackled, cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to dwindle by 33 percent. Other negative effects include pastoral livelihoods lacking water resources and biomass loss by 40 percent in sub-Saharan Africa," said Onyong, addressing science journalists from Africa and the Middle East currently participating in a mentoring program being organized by the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ).

He added that if climate change is not reversed, there are fears of increased health risks and diseases. Widespread diseases can result from changes in temperature and environmental setup. He cited the fact that 97 percent of the global cholera outbreak in 2002 was reported in Africa alone. Other health threats include outbreaks of meningitis epidemics before the onset of rain in East and West Africa.

There is also the rising number of cases of malaria in Southern Africa — a region that is more susceptible to attacks. Malaria, a major cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa, can be perpetuated further because of climate change. Vectors like mosquitoes can find the new environment conductive for breeding and multiplying.

Climate Change Adaptation in Africa

A chart showing the global warming in the 20th century.

NEPAD's four primary objectives are to eradicate poverty, promote sustainable growth and development, integrate Africa in the world economy, and accelerate the empowerment of women.

The program will also generate a better shared understanding of the finding of scientists, researchers, and institutes on climate change.

"The Climate Change Adaptation in Africa program will enhance the capacity of African people and organizations to adapt to climate in ways that benefit the most vulnerable. By building on existing initiatives and past experience, the program will work to establish a self-sustained skilled body of experts in Africa," said Fatima Denton, programme leader for IDRC Regional Office for West Africa.

The program supports a wide range of activities that will help build research capacity. It will also provide evidence to strengthen adaptation policies and plans in the future.

The program is adopting a strategy of funding and mentoring for action research. It is also focusing on knowledge generation management and sharing. It will supply education and training in the basic concepts of climate change adaptation as well as action research methods. Finally, it will facilitate communicating research results and research management.

"We face a genuine danger that recent gains in poverty reduction will be thrown into reverse in coming decades, particularly for the poorest communities on the continent of Africa," Kibwana told delegates who attended the official opening of the conference.

The two-week event is the 12th conference of the 189 parties to the UNFCCC. It is the second meeting of the 166 parties to the Kyoto Protocol.

Nairobi 2006 is the first UN climate summit in sub-Saharan Africa. The framework secretariat says it has drawn over 5,000 participants from around the world.

Charles Mkoka is an independent Malawian environmental writer with much experience in environmental issues. He has worked in the field of environment and natural resources since 1996, after graduating from the Malawi Natural Resources College. Apart from being a writer, he is also a wildlife educator, specialist and guide. You can reach him at mkokach@yahoo.com.