Climate Change: Africa’s Demands And Its Challenges

By Paul Arhewe,

As world leaders gather for the next two weeks, starting Monday in Copenhagen, Denmark on a major UN climate change summit that would proffer solutions for combating the 21st century monster that is gradually changing the world’s natural habitat, the role of Africa countries in making this a huge success is invaluable. As the Kyoto Protocol’s requirements expire in 2012 world leaders in the summit would forge a new pact to tackle greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. The Kyoto Protocol, which was negotiated in 1997 at the United Nations Climate Change Summit in Japan and ratified in early 2005, seeks to compel the 37 industrialised countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the five-year period of 2008-2012 to an average of five per cent against the 1990 levels.

Earlier this year African leaders threatened to boycott the Copenhagen summit unless huge aid is given to countries in continent to cope with climate change, arguing that highly industrialize countries in the west and Asia are major promoters of this destructive gas. Among their requests include aid for finance, technology and support for capacity building. Developing nations, also are calling on rich countries to cut their emissions by 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.
Last month, in order to develop a united front, in an emergency summit, 10 members of Africa Union met and agreed on an undisclosed amount (expected to be in trillions of US dollars) to demand during the ongoing talks in Copenhagen.
Africa countries will suffer more from the impact from climate change, as some of the achieved progress and developments in the past decade would be reversed. Also, ecological shocks are predicted to feature in the continent, as an offshoot of the global warming. Estimation from UN Environment Program shows that between 75 million and 250 million people in Africa, as a result of climate change, may face water shortage by 2020. $50 billion annually is needed by the continent to cope with climate change and rising temperatures.

The summit is expected to propose annual fund of $10 billion for the next three years to aid poor countries create strategies to combat climate change. In addition, hundreds of billions of dollars would be needed yearly to set out new energy path and adapt to new climates.

Some African countries, like South Africa, are beginning to show efforts on how to contribute in making less future emissions of greenhouse gas. President Jacob Zuma announced on Monday his country’s plan to cut gas emissions by 42 percent by 2025, on the basis that rich countries meet the requests to provide aid to poor African countries.

Scientists opine that the continuation of climate change would result in grave consequences, with continual rise in temperatures that would lead to extinction of plant and animal species, the flooding of coastal areas, extreme weather conditions, drought and wide spread of pandemic diseases.
As Africa countries seek ways to increase their energy supplies, the challenge is to seek ways to develop clean energy sources. There is a need for collaboration between World Bank and Africa Development Bank to build up framework for the continent’s clean energy development. Also, private investment is required to promote efficient energy source for Africa.
The challenge of adapting to climate change, even after global carbon emissions are reduced, is one that requires a long-term programme, where Africa governments need to systematically integrate adaptation issues in their policies.
The preservation of continent’s vast forest is a major way it can contribute in protecting the global climate. Hence, the continual encouragement and campaigns to discourage deforestation is germane, and a task Africa leaders should champion.