climate change in Africaby | 02-02-2013 06:32 |
|---|
 Since 2008, African countries intensify their efforts to form a coalition for the ongoing negotiations on climate change. In Copenhagen, at this moment, they are trying to enforce their views, concerns and expectations. Africa is very vulnerable. Climatic changes threaten the lives of people on a continent already suffering from poverty, degradation of ecosystems and social and civil unrest. Over 40% of Africans live in extreme poverty, and among them, 70% live in rural areas, subsisting mainly on agriculture. Climate change affects farmers in the Sahel to the highlands of Lesotho. They may cause the emergence of new epidemics spread by mosquitoes in countries such as Kenya and Uganda. The frequency of storms and floods could cause the destruction of basic infrastructure and housing in Madagascar, Mozambique and many other coastal regions. Any proposed global agreement on climate issues should include provisions encouraging the development of African countries and other developing regions. It is also assumed that the economic and human development in Africa can not be seen on the model already developed countries, strongly emitting greenhouse gases. An agreement such as this should also assess how the continent itself can contribute to the solution of its problems. Africa is not the cause of climate change because it produces only 3.8% of the total emissions of greenhouse gases in the world, and for a very short time only. In addition, its ability to participate in the fight against climate change is generally ignored or underestimated. Its forest cover, for example, holds 20% of the total carbon dioxide absorbed by trees in the world. As fertile soils of the continent, they contain an equally high CO2 produced by global agriculture. Africa is thus an essential role in the achievement of Copenhagen. Agreements which will replace the Kyoto Protocol in 2012, should include the transfer of new capital to developing countries, which constitute a major source of development. Therefore, the management of climate change offers African countries a unique opportunity to win on all fronts: mitigation of global warming, adaptation and development with wider access to energy, food security stronger and better prevention of crises and conflicts. Given the fact that over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions from greenhouse behaviors and investments at the local level, the role of local authorities is crucial. Strategies should be linked with those of national governments. In this perspective, the establishment of a fund to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to develop them themselves and implement mitigation and adaptation is one of the top priorities in Copenhagen . In addition, it will be necessary to undertake energy policies compatible with the fight against the greenhouse effect. In Africa, as elsewhere, we must establish a policy and institutional framework fully supports energy efficiency and energy "low-carbon". It will also provide a range of resources - grants, loans, tax measures and instruments market - that contribute to the proper functioning of the new development model. Additional support emergency should also be provided to complement the new Adaptation Fund of the Convention United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which helps the most vulnerable countries. Market instruments are required and must accompany future energy policy and agriculture, both national and regional development oriented emitting less carbon. Properly redeveloped Mechanism for Clean Development and other human rights mechanisms of carbon could be particularly useful in financing policies and measures to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency in Africa. Biocarbon, that is to say, the CO2 retained and stored in trees, plants, soils and oceans of the world, offers investment opportunities equally interesting to contribute to the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. |
