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The
ultimate aim of climate adaptation is to protect vulnerable populations,
economies and infrastructure throughout Africa. Achieving this requires
rapidly developing capacity in existing organizations and learning from an
extensive network of pilot actions. This is a central message adopted by
an Expert Group as a draft decision for the African Ministerial Conference
on Environment, meeting this week in Johannesburg.
Significant finance for climate adaptation is available now, and expected
to be over a billion dollars in a year or so. But capacity for effective
action is lacking in Africa. The urgent task is to build on existing
organizations, from the local community level to African-wide agencies and
networks. Youba Sokona, Executive Director of the Sahara and Sahel
Observatory, called on "African governments, international organizations
and regional economic communities to expedite the implementation of
existing programs and initiatives on climate change in Africa, at all
levels."
Ongoing
assessment of vulnerability is an essential capacity. A recent report to
the Rockefeller Foundation led by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
team at the University of Cape Town recommended that in order to improve
the use of climate science in developing adaptation responses it is
necessary to:
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Improve access to historical climate data.
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Strengthen skills for applying climate science.
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Bridge
the gap between information producers and information users.
-
Create
platforms for collaborative action and information sharing.
-
Build
on existing organisations and networks.
-
Develop records of 'good' adaptation.
-
Focus
aid to better support adaptation.
Gina
Ziervogel, the lead author, noted "Adaptation to climate variability is
not new, but climate change is expected to intensify existing problems and
create new risks with potentially grave consequences. We need to develop a
coherent response urgently."
The
AMCEN Expert Group proposed creating a comprehensive framework of climate
change programmes in Africa. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
with partners is supporting climate adaptation planning in Africa and will
step up its efforts in future. Tom Downing supported the Expert Group: "UNEP
and the Stockholm Environment Institute have signed a framework agreement
to collaborate on climate change adaptation. Africa is our first priority,
where we will work closely with our partners to build technical and
organizational capacity. The weADAPT.org collaborative platform already
provides data, tools and extensive guidance developed with partners in
Africa and Asia."
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Notes:
Climate
Change Adaptation in Africa: Scoping Paper for the Expert Group Meeting of
the African Ministerial Conference on Environment, 12th Meeting of the
Expert Group Johannesburg, South Africa: 7 ? 9 June, 2008
Executive summary
Adaptation is a process, beginning with understanding current
vulnerability, building capacity to support adaptation planning and
implementation, learning from pilot actions and deploying strategies and
measures to operationalise climate change adaptation in vulnerable
regions, sectors and populations. The assessment of current, urgent
vulnerabilities has established country-driven priorities that are
sufficient to invest in building capacity and pilot actions.
Adaptation efforts, globally and in Africa, are already occurring: it is
necessary to move from reactive adaptation to proactive policies,
strategies and plans. Actions are required to learn what works under which
conditions and/or circumstances; implementation of NAPA projects are
essential, as are an increased coverage of types of projects and sectors.
Financial support for climate change adaptation in Africa has been
growing, from the initial funds for Least Developed Countries (LDCF) to
major investments planned by bilateral donors. Increasing contributions
are expected from foundations and the private sector. The estimates of the
cost of adaptation in Africa are no more than 'thought experiments', and
further studies within Africa are required. However, it appears that the
capacity to utilize additional funding on climate adaptation over the next
few years is about the same order of magnitude as the funding available.
However, to achieve successful 'climate protection' will require effective
delivery of increased development funding and full implementation of
disaster risk reduction strategies, as well as significant funding for the
additional burdens of climate change.
The most
urgent needs at present, with immediate benefits, are to rapidly build the
adaptive capacity in existing institutions in Africa, to develop a
professional body of practitioners, and to implement pilot actions in
every country and vulnerable sector. The ability to plan sound projects
and to learn from what works is limited by the lack of institutional and
professional capacity. Taking advantage of synergies with other resource
management and risk reduction efforts (e.g., water, land degradation,
biodiversity, coastal zones, health and disasters) is imperative.
For more
information on AMCEN, previous sessions held and other information,
readers are directed to:
AMCEN's page on UNEP's website
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