1 Introduction
11
Adaptation should be knowledge-based, integrating scientific and local factors.
Local knowledge systems that guide people to adapt to climate conditions in many
places have evolved from the experience of generations. However, historical understanding of local conditions is of limited use when there exist significant short- and
long-term uncertainties about precipitation and water availability.
Moreover, effective and equitable adaptation to climate change in land and water
management is dependent on good communication. Such communication must be in
a form that users can understand, is suitably packaged and presented, and is culturally
sensitive to all decision-makers and those impacted at every level.
In order to address the economic and financial aspects of climate change, it is also
important to recognize that adaptation is a development challenge that is adding to
already substantial poverty and development challenges on the continent. Additional
and substantial increases in financing are therefore needed to improve the adaptive
capacity and resilience of rural households and land/water management systems. To
achieve this, a full range of financing options must be utilized, including innovative
financing mechanisms, from both private sources and government. Moreover, public
funds must also come from wealthier countries and from those countries that are now
major contributors to GHG emissions.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations address mitigation and adaptation, and may present important financing
opportunities. For example, the scope of the Clean Development Mechanism and/or
emerging market mechanisms for sustainable development should be expanded to
address issues relevant to Africa, such as reforestation, agro-forestry and soil carbon
sequestration and requires substantial financing. The principle of shared but differentiated responsibility as defined under the UNFCCC suggests the necessity to take
into account equity based on historical and current consumption of resources to fight
climate change. To put this into perspective, the African Development Bank (AfDB
2012), predicts adaptation costs in Africa to be on the order of US$20–$30 billion
per annum over the next ten to twenty years (2020–2030). But as of 2012, only about
$350 m of adaptation funding had been approved for spending in Africa, of which
just $130 m had been disbursed (United Nations ECA 2019). Considerable additional
investment will therefore be required to bridge the gap.
“Can Africa really fund its own responses to climate change impacts as
unconditional contributions using its domestic resources, irrespective of how
marginal this could be? As Africa is the region bearing the greatest burden of
climate change, did Africa over-pledge, and how feasible is it for African countries to internalize their Nationally Determined Contributions in their current
form? Is it ethically and morally acceptable to put at risk the impoverishment of many more people by deploying scarce national resources for the
implementation of NDCs?”
Nkem (2016) in “Unpacking Africa’s enigma with NDCs”, September 2016,
Science*Policy*Africa
11
Adaptation should be knowledge-based, integrating scientific and local factors.
Local knowledge systems that guide people to adapt to climate conditions in many
places have evolved from the experience of generations. However, historical understanding of local conditions is of limited use when there exist significant short- and
long-term uncertainties about precipitation and water availability.
Moreover, effective and equitable adaptation to climate change in land and water
management is dependent on good communication. Such communication must be in
a form that users can understand, is suitably packaged and presented, and is culturally
sensitive to all decision-makers and those impacted at every level.
In order to address the economic and financial aspects of climate change, it is also
important to recognize that adaptation is a development challenge that is adding to
already substantial poverty and development challenges on the continent. Additional
and substantial increases in financing are therefore needed to improve the adaptive
capacity and resilience of rural households and land/water management systems. To
achieve this, a full range of financing options must be utilized, including innovative
financing mechanisms, from both private sources and government. Moreover, public
funds must also come from wealthier countries and from those countries that are now
major contributors to GHG emissions.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations address mitigation and adaptation, and may present important financing
opportunities. For example, the scope of the Clean Development Mechanism and/or
emerging market mechanisms for sustainable development should be expanded to
address issues relevant to Africa, such as reforestation, agro-forestry and soil carbon
sequestration and requires substantial financing. The principle of shared but differentiated responsibility as defined under the UNFCCC suggests the necessity to take
into account equity based on historical and current consumption of resources to fight
climate change. To put this into perspective, the African Development Bank (AfDB
2012), predicts adaptation costs in Africa to be on the order of US$20–$30 billion
per annum over the next ten to twenty years (2020–2030). But as of 2012, only about
$350 m of adaptation funding had been approved for spending in Africa, of which
just $130 m had been disbursed (United Nations ECA 2019). Considerable additional
investment will therefore be required to bridge the gap.
“Can Africa really fund its own responses to climate change impacts as
unconditional contributions using its domestic resources, irrespective of how
marginal this could be? As Africa is the region bearing the greatest burden of
climate change, did Africa over-pledge, and how feasible is it for African countries to internalize their Nationally Determined Contributions in their current
form? Is it ethically and morally acceptable to put at risk the impoverishment of many more people by deploying scarce national resources for the
implementation of NDCs?”
Nkem (2016) in “Unpacking Africa’s enigma with NDCs”, September 2016,
Science*Policy*Africa