FACING THE TEMPTATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Aaron Kaah Yancho

At the   Dourum community in the Far North Regions  of Cameroon very  close to  the Lake Chad river basin the planting season is in the offing. The local farmers out there need no scientist to remain them.  By indigenous knowledge   and design it will just be a repeat of an old aged tradition to plant at this time of the year.

MY AFRICA: WHO IS TELLING YOUR CLIMATE CHANGE STORY?

By Friday Phiri

 

LISAKA, Zambia (PAMACC) - Through no fault of their own, millions of poor and vulnerable people’s lives around the World, mainly in Africa, are at stake in the advent of climate change. Contributing only less than four percent to global carbon emissions, climate experts are unanimous that Africa is the most vulnerable to negative effects of climate change due to limited resource capacity. 

The conclusion is therefore that the poor and vulnerable communities of Africa need climate justice. Those who have been identified as major polluters are called upon not only to cut their carbon emissions, but also provide funding for adaptation strategies by the vulnerable communities.

THE PLACE OF GREEN JOURNALISM IN EMERGING ECONOMIES IN AFRICA

By Elias Ntungwe Ngalam

A key challenge in many countries in the developing world especially Africa is on how to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.

Many of these countries are striving for emergence or transition to economic growth and the media is supposed to play a critical role in holding governments officials, corporate leaders and other stakeholder accountable in the management of valuable albeit scarce resources emanating preponderantly from the environment.

Post-Modernist Conservation Reclaims Ecosystem Services

BY G. Michael G. Michael
(Originally published by Fortune Content Matters)
The relationship between human welfare and the natural environment is mediated by ecosystem services. Changes to those services as a result of changes in the environment affect livelihood. Overlooking this link, however, human beings jeopardize their survival by disturbing the environment. Degradation and pollution are major human induced environmental threats across the world. Although the latter is yet an emerging challenge, natural resource degradation remains a concern for least developed countries (LDCs) such as Ethiopia. Loss of land productivity due to erosion, deforestation, depletion of nutrients, and deterioration of soil structure signal the worst state of environmental dilapidation. So are the subsequent problems of food insecurity, displacement of people, loss of biodiversity and frequent failures in ecosystem functions.

Namibia commits to fight desertification

By Hilma Hashange

hilma@economist.com.na

The Namibian government has strengthened its efforts to find lasting solutions to address challenges currently facing the country such as drought, land degradation and desertification.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry have been working to help communities and farmers to cope with the challenges posed by climatic variability and the harsh environmental impacts.

Climate change projects require partnership funding

By Hilma Hashange

hilma@economist.com.na

Climate change adaptations have the potential to disrupt available funding or to deplete national budgets of poorer countries. With the financial impact of climate change events already witnessed on a large scale over several years, Namibia will need to investigate financial options both within the country and externally.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol make provision for parties with more resources to financially assist those countries where the inhabitants are more vulnerable due to budgetary limitations.

AFRICA: Engaging the Media for A Safer Climate

Atayi Babs Opaluwah

 

From the hitherto unsafe cocoons of industrialised nations and their legendary dalliance with turbulence of every hue, climate change has burst forth on African shores with a sneeze that is reminiscent of asthmatic baboons in virgin forests. What was once considered the exclusive preserve of those who engage cosmic forces through technological advancements has predictably navigated its way to the African corridor. From Kampala to Kinshasa, from Nouakchott to N’Djamena, from Lagos to Lusaka, climate change is increasingly becoming real with alarming greenhouse gas levels, frenetic rise in temperatures, astounding biodiversity losses, unmatchable sea level rise, flooding, drought, deforestation and desertification.

SolarAid wins global green energy award

PRESS RELEASE
London, 20 June 2013

Luke.malcher@ashden.org | +44 781 628 0106

 

SolarAid – a charity bringing clean light to rural East Africa – has won a coveted Ashden Award

The charity SolarAid, which sells solar-powered lanterns to families living without grid power in Tanzania and elsewhere in East Africa, has been announced today (20 June) as winner of the 2013 Ashden International Gold Award, the world’s most prestigious green energy prize.

 

Adapting to Changing Environment and Seizing Green Economy Opportunities will Give Companies Competitive Advantage

News Release

Nairobi, 21 June 2013 – The future of the private sector will increasingly hinge on the ability of businesses to adapt to the world’s rapidly changing environment and to develop goods and services that can reduce the impacts of climate change, water scarcity, emissions of harmful chemicals, and other environmental concerns.

From extreme weather events, to rising pressures on finite natural resources, changes in the global environment will increasingly impact operating costs, markets for products, the availability of raw materials, and the reputation of businesses, from finance and tourism, to healthcare and transport.