© 2012 Economic Commission for Africa
African Scientists Developing a Roadmap Towards Climate Change
17 March 2010 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
A three-day consultative workshop on “Climate Change and Scientific Consequences in Africa: Post-Copenhagen” opened today to address the role of African scientists in combating climate change. These eminent scientists will determine how scientific knowledge as a basis for institutional action can support ways that African countries adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.
The specific objectives of the workshop include assessing the current status of research work on climate change in Africa (e.g.
research infrastructure, data management, modeling and utilization, human resources training and retention initiatives), as well as channeling scientific research to improve policy-making, particularly in areas of high technical expertise. The other areas to be addressed will include capacity of African governments and their institutions to handle the disaster risk management cycle (e.g.
mitigation, preparedness, early warning, response and recovery); technologies at Africa’s disposal for adaptation and mitigation and the costs associated with deployment of such technologies; enhancing collaboration between African climate scientists and policy-makers for informed policy making; climate changes and their impacts on Africa’s sustainable growth and development;
Africa’s collaboration with the international community dealing with climate change initiatives; the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change Accord; and climate change and its consequences in Africa: the roadmap for Africa and the launch of the network of African Scientists on Climate Change.
Opening the workshop, Ms. Aida Opoku-Mensah, Director of the ICT, Science and Technology Division (ISTD) of the ECA stressed on the importance, relevance, and timeliness of the workshop focusing on a major issue/subject threat to undermine sustainable growth and development in Africa, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. She said, “everyone in this room knows that climate change is emerging as one of the most important challenges of the 21st century, calling for an urgent and innovative action”. Ms. Opoku-Mensah pointed out that “there is overwhelming scientific consensus that the world need to take urgent action to mitigate climate change; better integration of science and policy in Africa is crucial for effective adaptation to climate change”. She further noted that “Africa enters the 21st century facing monumental challenges to its survival and long-term sustainability. At the core of these challenges is the continent’s ability to master Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and to successfully apply these forces to address critical problems related to health, food, water and the climate change adaptation and mitigation. This is where the importance and significance of research and development (R&D) provides the backbone for adaptation and mitigation, and the deployment of scientists on the continent becomes critical”.
Mr. Josue Dione, Director of Food Security and Sustainable Development Division of the ECA, on his part, made a brief remark on ECA’s work in driving Africa’s Climate Change agenda. He said “climate change has become a key challenge to Africa’s sustainable development”, adding “Africa needs to build its scientific capacity to choose its options in climate change agenda based on its own terms”. Mr. Dione stressed that the outcomes of the workshop will be very crucial in obtaining inputs from the African scientific community to chart the way forward. He further pointed out that “ECA is working very closely with its partners particularly the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), through the African Climate Policy Center, to coordinate and drive Africa’s climate change programme. Contributions from African scientists in this endeavor will be so crucial”.
Prof. Sospeter Muhongo, Regional Director, International Council for Science-Regional Office for Africa (ICSU-ROA) and ECA’s partner in the workshop, made remarks on “S&T challenges and opportunities for Africa on climate change global negotiations and partnerships” and highlighted on the workshop objectives and expected outcome. After extensive elaboration on the historic path taken on the global climate change debate since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to the recent 2009 Copenhagen Climate Change Accord (COP15), he reminded participants that “the focus of the workshop is on the scientific aspects of the process, and identifying a stronger role for African climate scientists as well as the development of scientific plans”. Prof. Muhongo also pointed out that “one outcome of this workshop is a joint ECA-ICSU publication on the science of climate change that will showcase what African scientists are doing”.
Over 60 scientists drawn from Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, as well as representatives and experts from the African Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology (AMCOST), African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD), European Climate Foundation, Global Footprint Network, Mckinsey Company, and International Council for Science-Regional Office for Africa (ICSU-ROA) are in attendance.
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