Africa warned on climate change
Jan 30, 2007
ADDIS ABABA, Tuesday - Africa must be prepared for more droughts, floods and cyclones because of climate change caused by industrial pollution, which has already damaged rural economies on the continent, experts said on Tuesday.
ADDIS ABABA, Tuesday - Africa must be prepared for more droughts, floods and cyclones because of climate change caused by industrial pollution, which has already damaged rural economies on the continent, experts said on Tuesday.
African leaders discussed climate change at a AU summit in the Ethiopian capital, focusing on its potential to cause severe loss of life or even conflict.
As climate-related disease and severe weather affect the continent, experts urged African leaders to take action now to prevent future disasters.
Desertification has contributed to the bloodshed in Sudan’s Darfur region as nomadic cattle-herding tribes clash with farmers over water supplies.
Preliminary studies in west Africa have shown some correlation between conflicts and climate change, although more research is needed, said Stephen Zebiak, Director-General of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society.
"When times get really, really hard the suggestion is that that can trigger other types of problems," Zebiak said.
"The Western countries should reduce their emissions. We are not the contributors, we are the victims," said South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
But Zebiak said African nations should do more to protect themselves against disasters caused by climate change with early warning systems which could prevent famines, floods and outbreaks of disease caused by severe weather fluctuations.
Reuters
African leaders discussed climate change at a AU summit in the Ethiopian capital, focusing on its potential to cause severe loss of life or even conflict.
As climate-related disease and severe weather affect the continent, experts urged African leaders to take action now to prevent future disasters.
Desertification has contributed to the bloodshed in Sudan’s Darfur region as nomadic cattle-herding tribes clash with farmers over water supplies.
Preliminary studies in west Africa have shown some correlation between conflicts and climate change, although more research is needed, said Stephen Zebiak, Director-General of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society.
"When times get really, really hard the suggestion is that that can trigger other types of problems," Zebiak said.
"The Western countries should reduce their emissions. We are not the contributors, we are the victims," said South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
But Zebiak said African nations should do more to protect themselves against disasters caused by climate change with early warning systems which could prevent famines, floods and outbreaks of disease caused by severe weather fluctuations.
Reuters