Location
Room 107
Start Date
4-7-2012 10:15 AM
End Date
4-7-2012 12:00 PM
Description
The climate of the Africa is changing. When the climate started changing and when it will end is subject to endless debate. Climate is important for development in Africa but natural climate fluctuations from autonomous climate cycles (such as those linked to the El Nino phenomenon) disrupt ecological, economic and social systems. The causes of climate of change include: continued rates of high population growth, increasing reliance on fossil fuel-driven growth technologies, land use effects, (particularly urbanization, agriculture and deforestation) and increases in concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) and aerosols. Climate change in Africa has several effects. There are some effects that are due to excessive rain such as: floods particularly in west, eastern and North Africa; sea level rise leading to coastal erosion especially around the Indian Ocean coastal zone; spread of diseases (such as malaria and cholera); and destruction of infrastructure (such as roads and bridges). There are also effects due to little or no rain such as drought and decrease in river basin run-off which affect hydropower generation. All the above effects cause poverty, lack of food security, loss of lives and biodiversity and conflicts over natural resources such as land and water. Climate change adaptation is one of the strategies that have been developed to cope with the effects of climate change. Adaptation refers to adjustments in ecological, social or economic systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli and their effects or impacts. Adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change is vital in order to reduce the impacts of climate change that are happening now and increase resilience to future impacts. Adaptation requires urgent attention and action on the part of all countries. Several strategies have been developed since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992 up to the 2011 Durban CO 17 / CMP 7. The main objective of this paper is to analyze climate change adaptation opportunities and constraints in Africa. The paper specifically examines the policy and legal strategies relevant to climate change adaptation in Africa that have been developed since the UNFCC in 1997 up to the Durban Platform in 2011. The major conclusion of the paper is that climate change adaptation strategies are key to combating climate change in Africa because they can be appropriately implemented. However, their effective implementation requires active roles of African governments, the private sector, civil society, regional organizations, international organizations and donors and industrialized countries.
Presentation
Included in
Emerging Legal and Policy Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation: Opportunities and Constraints for Action in Africa
Room 107
The climate of the Africa is changing. When the climate started changing and when it will end is subject to endless debate. Climate is important for development in Africa but natural climate fluctuations from autonomous climate cycles (such as those linked to the El Nino phenomenon) disrupt ecological, economic and social systems. The causes of climate of change include: continued rates of high population growth, increasing reliance on fossil fuel-driven growth technologies, land use effects, (particularly urbanization, agriculture and deforestation) and increases in concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) and aerosols. Climate change in Africa has several effects. There are some effects that are due to excessive rain such as: floods particularly in west, eastern and North Africa; sea level rise leading to coastal erosion especially around the Indian Ocean coastal zone; spread of diseases (such as malaria and cholera); and destruction of infrastructure (such as roads and bridges). There are also effects due to little or no rain such as drought and decrease in river basin run-off which affect hydropower generation. All the above effects cause poverty, lack of food security, loss of lives and biodiversity and conflicts over natural resources such as land and water. Climate change adaptation is one of the strategies that have been developed to cope with the effects of climate change. Adaptation refers to adjustments in ecological, social or economic systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli and their effects or impacts. Adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change is vital in order to reduce the impacts of climate change that are happening now and increase resilience to future impacts. Adaptation requires urgent attention and action on the part of all countries. Several strategies have been developed since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992 up to the 2011 Durban CO 17 / CMP 7. The main objective of this paper is to analyze climate change adaptation opportunities and constraints in Africa. The paper specifically examines the policy and legal strategies relevant to climate change adaptation in Africa that have been developed since the UNFCC in 1997 up to the Durban Platform in 2011. The major conclusion of the paper is that climate change adaptation strategies are key to combating climate change in Africa because they can be appropriately implemented. However, their effective implementation requires active roles of African governments, the private sector, civil society, regional organizations, international organizations and donors and industrialized countries.