ECA lecture series revisits the Stern Review on Climate Change, stresses why Africa should care

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ECA lecture series revisits the Stern Review on Climate Change, stresses why Africa should care

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 22 June 2009 (ECA) – The effects of climate change would cost the world an estimated loss of at least 5% of global gross domestic product (GDP) each year, if nothing is done, Mr Kwadwo Tutu, Economic Affairs Officer at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said in Addis Ababa today, citing the famous Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change.

Mr Tutu, who was addressing participants at today’s session of the ECA Library Book Review Series added that the cost could rise to 20% of the global GDP or more, considering wider risks and impacts.

The Sir Nick Stern’s Report that was commissioned by the UK government and published in 2006 was the first major attempt to address the economic costs of climate change – thus expanding the debate on the issue from pure science to economics and development. The publication marked the beginning of a more comprehensive reflection on the consequences of the global phenomenon, Tutu told the audience.

After explaining the scientific causes of climate change and the projected effects on Africa, Tutu went on to narrate other relatively well known consequences as regards Africa.

“Some of Africa’s largest cities such as Cape Town, Dar-es-Salaam, Alexandria and Maputo would be submerged under rising sea levels; and that would place well over 70 million people at risk, if action is not taken”, he said.

This means that some 30% of Africa's coast could disappear as sea levels rise from between 15cm to 95cm in the next 100 years. It is also estimated that about 40 % of wildlife habitats could disappear, and cereal crop yields could fall by 50%.

Draughts, which have regularly overwhelmed parts of Africa, could become more common as a result of climate change.

There are other reasons why Africa should care said Tutu: Some 70 % of people in Africa and nearly 90% of the poor work in agriculture. And the range and prevalence of vector-borne diseases such as malaria would increase, while the risk of conflicts related to population migrations would heighten.

Although the Stern review does not focus essentially on Africa, the second segment of the lecture focused on Africa’s response to climate change, and was presented by Mr Josue Dione, the Coordinator of ECA’s new project, African Climate Policy Centre and Director of the Commission’s Food Security and Sustainable Development Division.

Mr. Dione underscored measures being taken by African governments and their development partners, including the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), to ensure coherent action aimed at harnessing the intellectual and financial resources of the continent to meet the challenges posed by climate change.

He added that most climate change activities by the continent were also aimed at “increasing the resilience of Africa’s population to climate change by enabling effective adaptation activities”, as well as at “addressing the need for greatly improved climate information for Africa”.

Mr. Dione outlined two key climate change initiatives by the ECA: the ClimDev-Africa and the African Climate Change Policy Centre (ACPC).

He said the initiatives would serve to “fill gaps in information, analysis and options required by policy and decision-makers at all levels; build solid foundation for science-based response to climate change; strengthen Africa’s climate and development institutions at regional, sub-regional and national levels; and provide framework for coordinated increased level of activities for adaptation to climate change”.

This means that the center would require “political leadership provided by the AUC, who will co-ordinate the Continental policy response and global negotiations”, he added. He explained that the ECA-based African Climate Policy Center (ACPC) will serve as ClimDev-Africa knowledge-management and Policy-facilitation arm; and that there would be a ClimDev-Africa Special Fund to provide channel for demand-led funding of implementing institutions across Africa to be based at, and managed by AfDB.

Dione made it clear that the ACPC shall deliver on the policy component of ClimDev-Africa. In collaboration with UNEP and through African Union Commission and African Ministerial Council on the Environment (AMCEN), the AUC will assist Africa’s preparation for, and participation in global climate negotiations; support efforts of member states in integrating climate change concerns into their development policies and frameworks; guide and facilitate the implementation of ClimDev-Africa field-level operations; and will amplify support given to Africa in the climate Negotiations.

Some of the activities of the center are already being implemented, including preparations for a common position in the forthcoming negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark in December this year”. It would be recalled that African Ministers of Environment agreed on a common position to be presented in Copenhagen during their meeting in Nairobi, Kenya in May 2009.

It aims to ensure adequate resources for adaptation measures to climate change impacts in the areas of water resources, agriculture, health, infrastructure, biodiversity and ecosystems, forest, urban management, tourism, food and energy security and management of costal and marine resources.

The common position gives special attention to adaptation and urges the international community to increase support to Africa, based on the priorities for Africa, which include adaptation, capacity building, financing and technology development and transfer.

ECA’s Library Series Lectures are organized every quarter to enlighten ECA staff and the general public on emerging issues.

Issued by the ECA Information and Communication Service

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4/8/2014 Article - ECA lecture series revisits the Stern Review on Climate Change, stresses why Africa should care

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