Africa needs funds to fight climate change

Jul 30, 2009

AFRICAN countries have identified climate change as an issue of concern. During the Bonn talks recently, world leaders called for the need for national climate mitigation actions.

Robert Bakiika

AFRICAN countries have identified climate change as an issue of concern. During the Bonn talks recently, world leaders called for the need for national climate mitigation actions.

National mitigation plans have not been defined because developing countries are different. However, mitigation plans will include actions like reducing greenhouse emissions, degradation and deforestation.

In an African minister’s environment meet in Nairobi in May, the ministers agreed to mainstream climate change adaptation measures into national and regional plans.
The ministers urged the international community to increase support to Africa to help the continent cope with climate change.

Developing countries have limited funds to develop strategies to mitigate climate change. In addition, Africa has insufficient technology to handle climate change.

Yet before negotiating for climate funds, developing countries are required to develop greenhouse gas inventories and national adaptation plans. All these exercises demand time and money, but offer little direct benefit to the country’s population.

The good news is an African climate policy centre is being established to offer platform for multi-actor cooperation. This will help Africa deal with climate change effectively.

However, for Africa to benefit from the centre which monitors climate, it should broaden its climate change portfolio and empower countries to respond to climate challenges.

The climate centre should also assist developing countries achieve sustainable development. But due to an unpredictable climate system, there is need for adaptation measures. The unpredictable climate systems can increase the concentration of greenhouse gases and skyrocket global temperatures.

The question is, what option do African countries have? Africa hardly has climate change adaptation plans because it has low levels of technology and is infested with poverty, disease and hunger, problems which need an urgent solution.
Therefore, to deal with the challenge of climate, Africa needs scaled-up finance, technology and capacity building.

The writer is the executive director, Environmental Management for Livelihood Improvement Bwaise

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