Locals key to climate fight, say Experts

Delegates at the CCDA VII in Nairobi, Kenya. Photo credit: Friday Phiri

Local communities’ involvement is a key intervention towards ensuring the resilience of African economies to climate change, experts at the Seventh Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA VII), have said.

Convened under the theme: Policies and actions for effective implementation of the Paris Agreement for resilient economies in Africa, delegates are deliberating on strategies to move from talk to action, given Africa’s vulnerability.

Speaking at the official opening of the conference in Nairobi, Kenya, James Murombedzi, Officer-in-Charge of ACPC said African communities have long practiced many adaptation strategies and viable responses to the changing climate.

However, he said, “there are limits to how well communities can continue to practice adaptive livelihoods in the context of a changing climate”, adding that it was time they were supported by an enabling environment created by government-planned adaptation.

In support of the indigenous knowledge and local community involvement narrative, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forestry, Keriako Tobiko urged scientists on the continent to be inclusive by incorporating indigenous knowledge in their work.

“My plea to scientists is to see to what extent have you taken on board indigenous knowledge because it is critical,” he said.

The CCDA VII comes on the back drop of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on Global Warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius which has warned of a catastrophe if immediate action is not taken to halt greenhouse gas emissions.

And commenting on the IPCC report and its impacts in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty’, Tobiko said limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius would require rapid, far reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.

“Operationalisation implies that adequate and predictable resources be mobilised and made available to support adaptation and mitigation action in Africa and other developing world,” he said, adding it was important that discussions and outcomes of CCDA-VII contribute to build momentum towards the upcoming COP 24 and implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

In buttressing the importance of a united Africa, Mithika Mwenda of the Pan African Climate justice Alliance (PACJA), called on African leaders to be vigilant at what he termed ‘shifting tactics’ by the developed countries to avoid honouring their financial obligations towards the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Mr. Mwenda, whose organisation is co-hosting this year’s conference, said the civil society movement is worried at the potential collapse of the Paris Agreement.

“However, we are hopeful that the IPCC special report which has warned of serious consequences of inaction, might soften the hearts of the hardliners,” he said.

Over 700 delegates are attending the conference which also serves as a preparatory platform for Africa’s participation at the annual United Nations Climate change conference.

It brings together researchers, policy makers, multilateral development banks, intergovernmental agencies, development partners, academia, parliamentarians, government officials, private sector, civil society, the youth, women and the media, to discuss climate change issues and how they affect development on the continent.