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Το περιεχόμενο παρέχεται από το Sophie Mbugua. Όλο το περιεχόμενο podcast, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των επεισοδίων, των γραφικών και των περιγραφών podcast, μεταφορτώνεται και παρέχεται απευθείας από τον Sophie Mbugua ή τον συνεργάτη της πλατφόρμας podcast. Εάν πιστεύετε ότι κάποιος χρησιμοποιεί το έργο σας που προστατεύεται από πνευματικά δικαιώματα χωρίς την άδειά σας, μπορείτε να ακολουθήσετε τη διαδικασία που περιγράφεται εδώ https://el.player.fm/legal.
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George Esquivel started making shoes for himself and some friends, up-and-coming musicians in Southern California. Soon, Hollywood came calling. And it wasn’t just celebrities who took notice. A film financier did, too. He said he wanted to invest in the company, but George soon realized his intentions weren’t what they seemed. Join Ben and special guest host Kathleen Griffith as they speak to George about the rise of Esquivel Designs. Hear what a meeting with Anna Wintour is really like, and what happens when you’re betrayed by someone inside your company. These are The Unshakeables. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
Africa Climate Conversations.
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Το περιεχόμενο παρέχεται από το Sophie Mbugua. Όλο το περιεχόμενο podcast, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των επεισοδίων, των γραφικών και των περιγραφών podcast, μεταφορτώνεται και παρέχεται απευθείας από τον Sophie Mbugua ή τον συνεργάτη της πλατφόρμας podcast. Εάν πιστεύετε ότι κάποιος χρησιμοποιεί το έργο σας που προστατεύεται από πνευματικά δικαιώματα χωρίς την άδειά σας, μπορείτε να ακολουθήσετε τη διαδικασία που περιγράφεται εδώ https://el.player.fm/legal.
The Africa Climate Conversations podcast channel purpose is to shape climate change and environmental narratives in Africa through in-depth news features from the field, conversations with African experts, and opinions. Hello, and welcome. My name is Sophie Mbugua, and I am from Kenya. I am an environmental journalist passionate about Africa, my motherland, nature, and travel. I started this podcast in 2022 after reporting for numerous international, local, and regional media outlets on climate change and the environment. But over the years, I have noted huge gaps in reporting these narratives from an African perspective. In a world where Africa is heating faster than the rest of the world, its population expected to double, home to critical minerals for a green revolution, Africa cannot afford to leave its media behind. As an African journalist, producing this podcast is my contribution to the Africa we want for us and our future generations. There, please subscribe, listen, and share. Let's shape the future African climate change and environmental narratives together. Watch us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@africaclimateconversations Website: https://www.africaclimateconversations.com/
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143 επεισόδια
Σήμανση όλων ότι έχουν ή δεν έχουν αναπαραχθεί ...
Manage series 3321749
Το περιεχόμενο παρέχεται από το Sophie Mbugua. Όλο το περιεχόμενο podcast, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των επεισοδίων, των γραφικών και των περιγραφών podcast, μεταφορτώνεται και παρέχεται απευθείας από τον Sophie Mbugua ή τον συνεργάτη της πλατφόρμας podcast. Εάν πιστεύετε ότι κάποιος χρησιμοποιεί το έργο σας που προστατεύεται από πνευματικά δικαιώματα χωρίς την άδειά σας, μπορείτε να ακολουθήσετε τη διαδικασία που περιγράφεται εδώ https://el.player.fm/legal.
The Africa Climate Conversations podcast channel purpose is to shape climate change and environmental narratives in Africa through in-depth news features from the field, conversations with African experts, and opinions. Hello, and welcome. My name is Sophie Mbugua, and I am from Kenya. I am an environmental journalist passionate about Africa, my motherland, nature, and travel. I started this podcast in 2022 after reporting for numerous international, local, and regional media outlets on climate change and the environment. But over the years, I have noted huge gaps in reporting these narratives from an African perspective. In a world where Africa is heating faster than the rest of the world, its population expected to double, home to critical minerals for a green revolution, Africa cannot afford to leave its media behind. As an African journalist, producing this podcast is my contribution to the Africa we want for us and our future generations. There, please subscribe, listen, and share. Let's shape the future African climate change and environmental narratives together. Watch us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@africaclimateconversations Website: https://www.africaclimateconversations.com/
…
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143 επεισόδια
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×Clear frameworks for community benefit sharing in the mining and renewable energy sectors are essential. However, Manson Gwanyanya, the researcher and representative for South and Anglophone Africa at the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, told the African Climate Conversations podcast that implementing these existing frameworks is key to delivering a shared prosperity for the communities whose land and resources are crucial for the energy transition in Africa.”. Demand for critical minerals is set to grow by three and a half times by 2030 as the world transitions from fossil fuels to renewable energy in order to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050. The African continent is home to massive transition mineral resource bases and enormous renewable energy potential, given its vast tracts of open land and favourable solar and wind conditions. But how well prepared is the continent for the critical mineral and renewable investment boom?…
Sensors on aeroplanes measure wind speed, humidity, and temperature, which is crucial for weather forecasting. As climate-related extreme events increase in frequency and intensity, effective weather-related infrastructure is critical not just for the agriculture sector but also development sectors such as agriculture, industries, and communities, which require timely, accurate data to adapt to the changing climate and mitigate future losses. On today's episode, Dr. Abubakr Salih Babiker, a Technical Coordinator for Meteorological Infrastructure for Africa at the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), explains the role airlines can play in bridging the current gaps in weather and climate data.…
Our children are the next generation. We, as humans, pass on our legacy to them, whether good or bad. The environment underpins humans’ survival today and tomorrow. As the world warms, it’s important to remember the vital role the environment's natural resources, such as forests, play in balancing human activities such as the burning of coal and other fossil fuels and reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Hence, teaching our children about the environment and the need to protect it at an early age is critical. Environmental education helps children understand the importance of preserving our natural resources and provides them with the tools to become responsible environmental stewards. Teacher Nzuu Boniface, the environmental club leader at the Msoa SDA primary school in Makueni County, Kenya has been teaching pupils to protect the environment by planting trees and handling waste materials. What are the benefits?…
This week, I was visiting a town in Makueni County, located in the southeastern part of Kenya. About an hour's drive from Makueni’s capital town Wote, I met a 70-year-old lady who, after a severe three-year drought hit the village, learned how to weave beaded baskets. She is relying on WhatsApp, her family, and Facebook to make sales. Have a listen to our conversation.…
African nations are blessed with 30% of the world’s critical minerals. Mineral that the world needs to develop solar panels, wind turbines, renewable energy storage, electric vehicles, defence infrastructures, communication infrastructure, digital economy and many more. However, past mining activities since colonial era has taught Africa taught lessons. Minerals, particularly diamonds, are widely believed to have been the main factor at the root of Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war in the 1990s. In addition to the Sierra Leone conflict diamond drive civil war in Angola, and the Democratic republic of Congo led to the UN definition of blood diamonds in the 1990’s. In 2020, the World Bank estimated the production of minerals such as graphite, lithium, nickel and cobalt, could increase by nearly 500% by 2050 to meet the growing demand for clean energy technologies. Therefore, a world rush to acquiring critical minerals required for these green energy technologies is inevitable. But, has Africa learned from its past experiences? Should Africa move at the same pace as the rest of the world, or should it pace itself?…
Humanly speaking, forests, minerals, oceans, water bodies, and other natural resources are seen as infinite by the human eye. Infinite in the sense that there are more resources to be mined or prospected for, more land to be utilized, a vast ocean and waterbodies that can handle enormous levels of pollution, vast underground water resources that can never be drained, and billions of fish to be caught. This attitude that the earth has an unlimited capacity and the insatiable human nature to get as much as we can out of the earth for ourselves regardless of the harm we are causing the ecosystem is what I term as greed, and as the late professor Wangari Maathai once mentioned that, “this human greed have created so many of the deep ecological wounds visible across the world today.” Can we restore balance?…
Mangroves are versatile and flexible forests that can cope with enormous disturbances. Dr. Judith Okello, a senior research scientist and mangrove ecologist at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, says that when sedimentation occurs, the mangroves can form a new cable rooting system and migrate when there is space on land. However, due to human influence, global temperatures continue to rise, causing frequent and sporadic weather-related events. When such events occur, they lead to sudden and frequent sedimentation, and the mangroves can get fatigued, resulting in massive diebacks. To help the mangroves cope, communities have been encouraged to plant. Instead of planting these mangroves, Dr. Okello advocates for a holistic ecological approach that solves the challenges facing mangrove forests. But how did we get here? Why is planting mangroves not the solution to restoring the degraded ecosystems?…
Featured today are a group of ladies who are establishing a livelihood by planting mangroves. About sixty kilometres south of Mombasa in Kwale County, in the small fishing town of Msambweni, a group of fifteen women from the Munje village joined together during the COVID-19 outbreak. A community-based organisation with 30 members has developed out of them after around four years. They are planting mangrove propagules along the southern coast of Kenya, around Vanga-Funzi Bay, to preserve a portion of mangrove forest. Additionally, the women are enhancing their livelihoods through activities such as beekeeping, eco-tourism, waste management, conservation education, and basket weaving. Approximately 400,000 propagules had been planted in nurseries by the end of last year by the women.…
Today we meet a Kenyan community saving the coral reefs along the Kenyan coast. Coral reefs along the Lamu-Kiunga area in Lamu County, a small archipelago north of Mombasa in Kenya, have degraded over the years. Pate Island, the largest island in the Lamu Archipelago, lies between the towns of Lamu and Kiunga, which depend on fishing. However, fishery productivity depends on healthy corals. How did the coral degradation impact these communities’ livelihoods? What degraded these corals? What are these communities doing about it?…
Women in Olailamutia, a town in Kenya's Narok County, have had problems with diarrhoea, stomachaches, and skin rashes for many years. Having access to clean drinking water from a spring is helping to get rid of these problems. Families here got water to drink from a river where they also took baths. The river in question has been contaminated due to chemical use, upstream intensive irrigation, and the discharge of untreated sewage into which they bathed their children. In a town that only gets its food from outside sources, having access to water also makes it possible to grow food. Narok County is one of 21 dry or semi-arid counties in Kenya. It is home to the beautiful Masai Mara. Extreme weather events like storms and droughts have also become more common and stronger.…
In today's episode, we meet Isaac Macharia, a Kenyan social entrepreneur who makes cabins out of plastic to keep Kenya’s Masai Mara clean. In 2015, Macharia was on his usual tour-guiding routine at the Masai Mara in Kenya. It bothered him. He decided to construct cabins using not only plastic bottles, but also stashing and hiding every non-biodegradable waste you can think of—straws, broken glass bottles, clothes, beer cans, to name just a few—right in there during construction. To harden and convert the plastic bottle into a smaller brick, they add dry sand. The contractors used plastic to make the cabin roof. Contracted local women collect these bottles and fill them with sand or paper.…
Picture this. It’s a lovely evening. You and your loved one are seated somewhere, enjoying some juice or beer from a glass made out of liquor bottles collected from a dumping site. How does that sound? On today’s episode, meet a young Kenyan lady – Mary Njoki, repurposing waste glass at Masai Mara.
For effective climate action in Africa to take shape, the African Group of negotiators lead negotiator on finance, Ambassador Mohamed Nasr, told the Africa Climate Conversations that the continent must self-assess and work on its own modalities to achieve climate action. Among the things the continent should work on is creating an Africa-specific platform outlining specific projects and programs for climate action that will collect and present all climate projects from the continent as a package. Nasr says specific projects and programs with clear needs presented to the negotiators will be easily supported “compared to what we have now which is more generic,” he added. At COP28, nations embarked on the Global Stocktake (GST) to assess collective progress towards achieving the long-term goals set under the Paris agreement. The GST is assessing mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation, considering equity and the best available science as well as loss and damage. With the GST being party-driven, there is a need for the continent to be specific on their needs and strategic to push for that means of implementation critical for climate action nationally and locally.…
The climate finance needs of developing countries have risen way beyond the 100 billion USD promised by developed countries 15 years ago. The recent UN 2023 adaptation gap report estimates the cost of adaptation at US$215 billion per year this decade. Access to finance, including means of implementation that are technology and capacity, is a catalyst not just for development but also for adapting to climate change, averting loss and damage, mitigating further climate impacts, and building trust among developed and developing countries. But finance under the climate negotiation process had had a long process. So, on this episode with Ambassador Mohamed Nasr, who is the Africa lead negotiator on finance and COP27 lead negotiator, as the globe embarks on negotiating a New Collective Quantified Goal on Finance, we discuss how Africa can solve the climate finance access challenge, among other key issues such as global taxation and political impacts on negotiation outcomes.…
COP28 takes place against the backdrop of increased financial needs to address climate change adaptation, mitigation, as well as loss and damage. Just to mention, the 2023 UNEP adaptation gap report estimates the cost of adaptation in developing countries at US$215 billion per year this decade. For Africa, the continent requires at least $56 billion annually for adaptation alone by 2030. Between 2020 and 2030, African countries will require an estimated $2.8 trillion in funding to fund the continent's conditional climate plans, or NDCs. In his speech, COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber committed to doing his part to ensure COP28 unlocks climate finance for developing nations. On loss and damage, the Presidency gave the first major milestone of COP28, delivering a historic agreement to operationalize the Fund—though the World Bank is yet to review and agree to the technical commitment conditionalities—with the UAE announcing it would commit $100 million to the Fund.…
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1 African Lead Negotiator: "I hope the loss and damage fund does not become a bargaining chip at COP28." 31:18
A 24-member transitional committee on loss and damage issued a proposal for a new loss and damage fund ahead of the 28th UN Climate Summit (COP28) taking place in Dubai this November. According to Alpha Oumar Kaloga, the African group's lead negotiator on loss and damage, the final decision was made in a tense atmosphere; thus, there is a need to understand the status of the final decision, as the United States had objected at the last moment. Kaloga told the Africa Climate Conversations podcast that developing countries have made compromises because “we cannot abandon our people. We cannot wait any longer, and we recognise that we are in a multilateral process and must make compromises. We accepted the World Bank (a red line) as the financial intermediary fund, but only under conditions." Developing countries have been pushing for a loss and damage fund since 1991, when the Alliance of Small Island States proposed creating an international insurance pool to compensate for loss and damage. The fund is intended to help developing nations recover from losses and harm caused by climate change. It is anchored on the UNFCCC’s principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, which underlines that the global challenge of tackling climate change should be met in a fair and equitable manner. "We want justice; we want loans to safeguard our progress, but it only takes one dramatic occurrence to undermine what has taken decades to establish." Says Kaloga. However, according to Kaloga, as part of the Paris agreement package, the world community agreed during COP21 in Paris that there would be no compensation and no culpability for loss or damage. "The devil is in the details; people only see the Paris agreement, but the operational decisions, and particularly paragraph 54, speak about no liability, no compensation”. However, though Article 8 of the Paris Agreement does not provide a basis for any liability or compensation, it specifies some areas of cooperation and facilitation to enhance understanding of and action to address loss and damage, such as irreversible loss and damage, slow onset processes, early warning systems, and risk management. Will the transitional committee proposal sail through at COP28, or is it likely to be a bomb? Have a listen.…
Lake Ol' Bolossat is the only lake in the Kenyan highlands, situated in Nyandarua County, about a three and a half-hour drive from Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. The lake is situated in the valley between the northwestern slopes of the AberdareRange of Mountains and Dundori Ridge. The lake forms the head waters of the Ewaso Ngiro North Basin, Kenya's largest basin, offering a variety of habitats ranging from open water through floating marsh and swamps to open grasslands and riverine forests along rivers and springs that feed the lake. One of the unique things about Lake Ol’Bolossat is that it has both fresh and saline waters that never mix at any given time. It's also an internationally recognised wetland as a Key Biodiversity Area. It's Kenya’s 61st Important Bird Area, with over 300 bird species. It is a breeding site for endemic and endangered birds and an international flight corridor for migratory birds. Among the birds nesting here are the Grew-crowned cranes. The grey-crowned crane is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List. These birds are non-migratory; however, they undertake local and seasonal movements and are most abundant in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, according to the International Crane Foundation. On my recent trip to Nyandarua County, I caught up with George Ndungu, the Cranes Conversation Volunteer’s founder. Ndungu tells us more about their work with local communities to protect these beautiful birds and benefit the locals.…
Economic and non-economic loss and damage associated with the extreme event are increasing in developing countries. Extreme events such as droughts, floods, cyclones, tropical storms, and forest fires have significantly increased globally in intensity, frequency, and scope. The devastating floods and landslides in Bangladesh caused an estimated loss of USD 176.0 million in housing, an estimated damage of USD 230.8 million in total damage in the agriculture and livestock sectors, and an estimated loss and damage of USD 55.7 million in the water, sanitation, and hygiene services sectors, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. The Loss and Damage Collaboration's calculated midpoint estimates of economic loss and damage in Global South countries suggest that losses totaled 425 billion USD in 2020 and 671 billion USD in 2030. After 30 years of negotiations, a new financial mechanism and a loss and damage fund to aid developing nations were agreed upon at the 27th UN Climate Summit last year at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. A 24-member transitional committee is expected to give recommendations on how to implement both the new financial arrangements and the fund this year in Dubai for consideration and adoption at the 28th UN Climate Summit (COP28). Their key role, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is to establish institutional arrangements, modalities, structure, governance, and terms of reference for the fund, define the elements of the new funding arrangements, identify and expand sources of funding, and ensure coordination and complementarity with existing and new funding arrangements. Loss and damage compensation, which is part of climate justice issues, goes back to the UNFCCC treaty, which acknowledges both the global north and the global south's contributions and responsibilities to the climate catastrophe. It is founded on the UNFCCC's premise of shared but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, which emphasises the importance of addressing the global challenge of climate change in a fair and equitable manner. What happens at COP28 in Dubai and beyond, as far as not just actualizing the loss and damage fund but making it accessible, is critical for climate justice, rebuilding trust, and ensuring that communities and nations in developing states are supported to rebuild better and sustainably.…
Not only are local communities and organisations essential for conservation but also for addressing issues of sustainability, poverty reduction, and economic development in Africa. However, local organisations collaborate with international organisations to assist these communities in protecting the biodiversity they inhabit, conserving fauna, adapting to climate change, and enhancing their social and economic well-being. According to a 2023 report published by Maliasili in September, partnerships between global conservation organisations and their African counterparts are crucial to the success of conservation efforts. However, these partnerships continue to confront obstacles regarding power dynamics, transparency, and interest alignment. Resson Kantai Duff, Portfolio Funding Director at Maliasili, told the Africa Climate Conversations that the approach, structure, and maintenance of these partnerships must be collectively reimagined. Today's episodes examine the report's findings, the financing issues at the heart of the partnership challenges, building trust, why African conservation organisations must look inward within Africa for funding, and how international conservation organisations can most effectively address the partnership dilemma for future effective collaborations.…
During the 28th United Nations climate summit, hosted by the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in December 2023, the first global stocktake, which is intended to map out the path to achieving the Paris Agreement's main objectives, will conclude. The global stocktake, which is anticipated to occur every five years, will assess the world's progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing resilience to climate impacts, and securing financing and support to combat the climate crisis. Botswana's David Lesolle, a seasoned African negotiator on climate change, reiterates that it is extremely difficult to measure progress where goals are unspecific. He warns that it is difficult to measure progress because the majority of African national climate commitments (NDCs) do not specify projects that will be implemented to address climate-related measures in critical sectors. As Africa convenes in Nairobi for the Africa Climate Weeks, what must the continent contemplate prior to the global stocktaking? Given that Africa is the continent most impacted by climate change, why should it prioritise building trust between its governments and its most vulnerable citizens?…
"After colonialism, religion depicted that we "Africans" lived in a satanic manner," argues Florence Monde. Mwauluka, a woman of 85 years old, founded the Limulunga la Makuwa craft women's club in the Mongu district of Zambia's Western Province. In today's episode, Mwaluka recalls her childhood before colonialism and the introduction of Christianity to her Lozi people, who have resided in the Barotse floodplains for over four centuries. The Lozi used water and herbs from their natural environment for medicinal purposes. The community cleared canals that connected their respective homesteads. The areas adjacent to the canals were also used for agriculture. "They did so because they believed it was their duty to the environment, as well as to maintain peace with their neighbours and ward off pests and diseases," Mwaluka explains. The Barotse floodplains have deteriorated, according to her, because the community was discouraged from conserving their environment without monetary compensation following Zambia's independence. In what other ways have religion, colonialism, and modern education influenced the conservation of the Barotse floodplains?…
Meet Florence Monde. Mwauluka is an 85-year-old woman popularly known here as Auntie Flo. She is the founder of the Limulunga la Makuwa craft women's club in Mongu district, Western Province, Zambia. Here, 10 women join up to weave mats, mattresses, hats, and baskets, as well as mould pots used as cooking pots, refrigerators, and water purifiers. These products are made from natural materials such as roots, grass, reeds, soil, and water obtained from the Barotse floodplains, which these women have dedicated their lives to protecting. They integrate these natural resources with plastics to craft bags, mattresses, pots, shopping bags, hats, and mats, among others. But Baita Chilemu, working with Auntie Flo, says having few women in leadership among the Barotse people and a lack of markets is a huge setback in their conservation efforts. The Barotse floodplain is a vast land area classified as a Ramsar site, with over 300 bird species and over 130 documented fish species. When flooded, it can reach over 550 000 hectares, acting as a sponge that slowly releases water to the nearby regions that receive low rainfall. But because of climate change, the Barotse loses about 1,500 mm of water annually from evaporation, which reduces the amount of water flowing in the lower Zambezi River system…
Is there a solution to the persisting water crisis in Zimbabwe? I ask Professor Tamuka Nhiwatiwa, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences, University Lake Kariba Research Station, at the University of Zimbabwe. Tamuka says Harare city in Zimbabwe is built on its catchment area. It relies on treating polluted waters from Lake Chivero and the Manyame River for domestic use. Lake Chivero and the Manyame rivers once hosted international fishing tournaments. However, today, these rivers are basically sewerage ponds. Why? Is there a solution to this persistent water crisis? Click to listen.…
When the Lozi people migrated to the Barotse Floodplains in western Zambia about 400 years ago, they heaped soil on platforms and settled in the floodplain without destroying it. The Lozi developed canals they use to access villages and farmlands and instilled African cultural and spiritual beliefs that have been used to protect the fish, water, animals, lagoons, and biodiversity within the floodplains as well as the forests on the higher ground they migrate to annually when the floodplains flood. On this episode, Victor Syatyoka, a conservationist with the National Heritage Conservation Commission in Zambia, expounds more on this cultural and spiritual conservation practice.…
Did you know that the Barotse floodplain, located in the upper Zambezi basin in Zambia’s western province, has over 339 bird species and over 129 documented fish species? When flooded, it can reach over 550 000 hectares, acting as a sponge that slowly releases water to the nearby regions that receive low rainfall. It's key for supplying water to downstream communities, and the Kariba dam relied upon by Zambia and Zimbabwe for hydroelectric energy. But, due to high temperatures in the area, the Barotse loses approximately 1,500mm of water per year through evaporation, affecting the water available along the Zambezi River system. This week, Dr. Machaya Chomba, the Upper Zambezi Program Manager at the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature Zambia, talks about its importance, major threats, and sustainable conservation solutions.…
In order to manage and safeguard the nation's forests, Zambia has a proactive 2015 forest act that brings together stakeholders, including local communities. However, extensive deforestation is being caused by the prospecting for new minerals, the logging of indigenous trees like rosewood and African teak, and the conversion of forest area for agriculture. The origins of significant river basins like the Zambezi, Luangwa, and Kafue are in danger, according to Abel Siampale, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zambia forestry program manager, as the nation is already seeing shifting ecological zones.…
It's nature that gives humans food, air, and medicine; hence, you must give back to nature. But, decades of development have not prioritised safeguarding the environment and the people who depend on it—as a result, leading to pollution, waste disposal, deforestation, ocean acidification, the rise of greenhouse emissions like carbon dioxide and methane, water stress, and rising sea levels. Despite numerous international treaties, emissions from carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide –the three most potent gases responsible for global warming reached record highs in 2021. Is climate change the real problem? Can the world solve the climate crisis without tackling degradation?…
At the foot of the Aberdare mountains in Kenya, about an hour's drive to Lake Naivasha, a youth group is encouraging farmers to preserve the grasslands to conserve the Sharpe's Longclaw bird species. The Njambini Wool Crafters buy wool from these farmers to ensure they generate income through sheep-keeping. The group produces yarns made of raw sheep wool. These yarns are sold to curio shop operators or woven into blankets, carpets, rugs, throw blankets, scarves, shawls, and socks. Samuel Bakari, an ecologist with the Friends of Kinangop Plateau, told the Africa Climate Conversations that in 2000 BirdLife international records showed between 10-20,000 mature Sharpe's longclaw birds in Kenya. Today over 20 years later, Bakari says this number has reduced to less than 2000 individuals. XEbAAPN2zmIgtP1nZXmg…
About an hour and a half drive from Kenya's capital city Nairobi exists the Kinangop Plateau. It is the middle catchment area between the Aberdares /Nyandarua range of mountains and Lake Naivasha. Initially, the grassland was a 70 000 hectares of expansive treeless tussocky grasses, bogs and marshlands. Today, only less than 10 percent of the grassland remains. The land converted into agricultural land, now is a significant source of cabbages, potatoes, and carrots consumed in Nairobi, Naivasha and Gilgil town. Eucalyptus, pines and cyprus trees were grown to rid the land of the water-logged marshes and bogs. As a result, tributaries and rivers flowing into lake Naivasha have lost over 80 percent of water, as observed during the Horn of Africa's longest drought. Why were these grasslands important? why is the land use change a threat to the Sharpe's Long claw birds habitats and survival? Can they be rehabilitated back to near original states amid the demand for food as population and temperatures rise? Click to listen.…
The Raya residents in Garissa - North east of Kenya - say they gave up 85 hectares (210 acres) of their land to make way for the solar power plant - the largest grid-connected solar power plant in East and Central Africa launched in December 2019, but have so far seen few benefits in return. So, who is benefitting? As Kenya aim to go 100 percent renewables what are the balances of power should the country consider? These are the things I am exploring in this second episode of our two-part series on just transitions, made by Africa Climate Conversations in collaboration with China Dialogue. Please, click to listen.…
Today, I am visiting Kenya's Kereita forest - a critical water catchment area and home to the endangered Abbott's Starling bird and threatened tree species like the Prunus Africana threatened for its medical value. I am here to discover what a community forty kilometers from Kenya's capital has done to save a forest that was once plundered for firewood, grazing, wood, and arable land and protect these precious species. Please listen, and let's explore together.…
About 30 years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, agenda 21 recognized that humanity stands at a defining moment in history, confronted by worsening poverty, hunger, ill health, and the continuing deterioration of the ecosystems on which we all depend for our well-being. Years later, world leaders continue to prioritize development over the environment. Today’s episode explores the link between biodiversity and our day-to-day life, like food, water, and air. We also discuss how best nations can develop while sustaining their biodiversity and reducing emissions.…
Happy New Year: 2023. Last year the year 2022, the average global temperature was about 1.15 degrees Celsius. 2022 marks the 8th consecutive year from 2015-2022 where each year the annual global temperatures have reached at least 1°C above pre-industrial levels. This is according to datasets compiled by the World Meteorological organization from six international temperature datasets. The world rich countries historically responsible for the rising emissions are still expanding their coal mines to tackle the energy crisis amid the Russia-Ukraine war. We have seen the tug of war between demonstrators and the police as they protest the clearance and demolition of a village in western Germany to make way for the expansion of a coal mine. And the world pact for nature was agreed on in Montreal Canada in December last year amid concerns by some African delegates among them the Congolese. Welcome back and buckle up as we take off this year’s climate and environmental conversations from an African perspective.…
Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has come with its fair share of blessings in terms of communication and transport. The Mombasa to the Kenyan capital Nairobi line was completed in 2017. Phase two of the railway aimed to link Nairobi with Malaba on the Kenya–Uganda border cut through the pristine Olooula Forest -one of the remaining Nairobi green spaces. The Oloolua Community Forest Association tried to stop it, but as Christopher Muriithi says, development had to happen. In today’s episode, in collaboration with China Dialogue, we explore the environmental impacts developments such as the SGR has caused and when demonstrations fail, what legal options do communities have to safeguard their environment from destruction?…
The Sharm el-Sheikh, decision was reached early morning on last Sunday the 20th as official plenary started at 4am. Among the wins for the Continent was the establishment of a loss and damage facility which was pushed hard by the G77 and China- Africa is in this group - as well as the civil society. But vehemently opposed by the United States at the beginning. Does the Global Shield against Climate Risks divide the African continent by cherry picking some African continent by promising them funds? Will seeking the international court of Justice to provides clarity necessary for countries to make better climate decisions at COP and at home help implementation of the Paris agreement and many other treaties on environment amd human rights?…
The 27th UN Climate summit is already underway till next week in Egypt’s coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh. It is essential to recognize that this is the 27th meeting of the parties in about 30 years. Also, remember that Africa is the continent that contributes the least to global emissions – about 4 percent. In 2015, in Paris, when the Paris agreement was being passed, Africa was promised by the COP 21 presidency Laurent Fabius that the continent would be recognized for its special needs and circumstances after. But till today, it has been a push and pulls, and Africa is yet to get this promise honored. This year the agenda still did not make it to the final agenda to be negotiated. What are the special needs and circumstances Africa has been pushing for recognition? Why should Africa concentrate on building effective local and national institutions to adapt to climate change? A conversation with David Lesole, a Climatologist with the department of meteorological services in Botswana. Former African Group of negotiators (AGN) on climate change and a former climate change lecturer at the University of Botswana.…
Forests and savannahs provide a wide variety of ecosystem services. They provide food and fuel. Additionally, they clean the air, filter water, and control floods, and erosion, while sustaining biodiversity. However, over the years human beings have plundered the earth prioritizing development needs over the environment. Kenya’s Olo0lua forest an urban forest located about half an hour’s drive from Kenya’s international airport has seen years of plunder as Nairobi residents quarried stones in the quest to develop the city. As climate change bites, how has Oloolua forest’s biodiversity changed? How has the once cooler neighborhood changed? What are the communities doing to protect the remaining forest?…
Human activities led to roughly 1.1°C of warming between 1850-1900. If this trend continues, scientists warn that global warming will exceed 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052, meaning more severe and extreme weather events. The earth exists not just as an investment opportunity but as a trust passed on from previous generations for the current to hold as stewards for future generations. It is time to come out of the boardroom meetings and conferences, put down our feet, and implement these plans and policies protecting our God-given resources but from bottom-up approaches allowing communities to relate culturally and spiritually with nature. These policies have existed in many nations, but behavior change is required among communities and a mind shift among our leaders.…
In the Horn of Africa, pastoralists have often moved. The movement is a crucial driver for community resilience. However, the slow onset of events like droughts, desertification, water scarcity, rising sea levels, and coastal erosion has increased climate-induced migration. By 2050, the World Bank says climate change will cause more than 200 million people could migrate, with most movement occurring within countries. Today, the IOM East and the Horn of Africa migration, environment, and climate change thematic specialists Lisa Lim Akem talks to use about climate-induced migration as drought bites the Horn of Africa countries.…
The 27th United nation Climate summit (COP27) is eight weeks away. COP27 occurs when several climate-related emergency crises, such as floods, drought, wildfires, storms, and cyclones, devastate communities, economies, and ecosystems. Today we welcome the COP27 President Special Representative Ambassador Wael Aboulmagd.…
In many African communities, traditional weather forecasting was relied upon to determine when famers would plant. Still among many communities it remains the most accessible and affordable source of weather information. However recurrent and persistent drought, has disrupted the weather patterns in Kenya. Rains no longer set in on expected months making uncertain the traditional weather forecasting. How has weekly weather texts helped save farming activities in kenya?…
Africa is home to about 560 million people out of over 700 million without access to electricity worldwide. In July 2022, the African Union commission and its member states unveiled what they say is a practical approach to tackling the energy crisis in the continent. The African Common Position on Energy Access and Just Transition stipulates that Africa will continue to deploy all forms of its abundant energy resources including renewable and non-renewable energy to address energy demand. Natural gas, green and low carbon hydrogen and nuclear energy will play a crucial role in expanding modern energy access in the short to medium term while enhancing the uptake of renewables in the long term for low carbon and climate-resilient trajectory. Linus Mofor a Senior Environmental Affairs officer in charge of Energy, Infrastructure, and Climate Change in the Africa Climate Policy Centre at the UN Economic Commission for Africa joins us for today’s episode. Mofor, explains why is Africa choosing to mix its energy portfolio with natural gas and nuclear energy instead of 100 percent renewable, and what is being done to catalyze energy investment in the continent.…
Hydro energy comprises of 83percent of Zambia’s installed capacity. In 2015, climate change impacts reduced Zambia energy generation capacity by more than 50 percent. In 2020 Zambia had to load shed for more than 12 hours again when inadequate rainfall again led to a loss of more than 800 MW. Coal came in hardy to stabilize Zambian economy. Most African countries depend on hydro {highly susceptible to weather and climate impacts} for energy. However, Africa has often been advised to keep their fossil fuels reserve unutilized to reduce further emissions. Why must the energy transition be just to Africa ahead of the coming 27th UN climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.…
Africa is a continent hard hit by climate change though least emitter. Erratic rains and floods, prolonged droughts, climate related migration and conflict, combined with Covid-19 are exposing nations to further debts. In addition, the continent being energy deficient, many nations lack energy base load. In line with the Paris agreement, is Africa being pressured to abandon its use of fossil fuel energy while developed countries facing energy shortages and rising costs for fuel and electricity, due to Ukraine Russia crisis turn back to more and dirtier fossil fuels? who is shaping the climate justice narratives. Is Africa doing enough to push their position ahead of COP27?…
Drought situation continues to worsen in Kenya. In Kenya’s Rift Valley, local says they last harvested since 2018. This year it has rained for four days. Cows have died, goats – their remaining source of food - are dying of diseases. The Worse hit are nineteen of the 23 Arid and Semi-Arid Land counties. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the number of people in need of assistance increased from 3.5 million this May to 4.1 million in June 2022. Rainfall failed in 2020, performed poorly during the 2021 short rains and cased early during the 2022 march to May long rains season. Listen to how drought is impacting them amid rising cost of food.…
Kenyan minority indigenous community - the Endorois live around Lake Bogoria in Baringo County in Kenya's Rift valley. In 1970's they lost their grazing ground when Lake Baringo was registered a national reserve. The remaining swamp - Kiborgoch or Loboi swamp stated shrinking in the 1990's due to land degradation and wildfires. The Women depend on the swamp to collect Papyrus reeds they use to make sleeping mats, leisure mats, sofa sets, and roofing materials. The swamp is a source of food and medicine and a dry season grazing area for the community. They rallied the community to rehabilitate and protect the swamp. Years later the community has registered the swamp as a community conservancy.…
Today in a special program swap with DW- Living Planet we here how climate change is impacting women in girls, in Kenya. As temperature continue to rise, how is it impacting people's mental health in South Africa? How about the peatlands in the Democratic republic of Congo?
Intense floods, cyclones, and drought, have devastated many sub-Saharan African countries, this year. As temperature rise, so does the losses in livelihoods and damages to key infrastructure hampering development and country planning. In Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, rains have failed consecutively. By March 2022, more than 13 million people were severely food insecure. Tropical storms and cyclones this year alone that has damaged homes, roads, water, and power infrastructure, schools, and hospitals in Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi. Madagascar alone has experienced four major storms since late January. Last year in Glasgow, UK, the issue of loss and damage became highly charged politically. Among the issues, developing countries needed a new financial facility to address loss and damage. They lost the battle as the United States strongly opposed it. The push continues at COP27 later this year in Egypt…
Between 1970 and 2019, more than 11 000 disasters were attributed to weather, climate, and water-related hazards worldwide. This was reported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in a 2021 report on mortality and economic losses from weather, climate, and water extremes. These disasters left over two million people dead. It also resulted in economic losses of $3.6 trillion. However, one in three people are still not covered by early warning services, while that number is almost twice as high in Africa. The episode explores why access to early weather alerts equals better communities and economies…
Professor Paul Kimani, a plant breeder and lecturer at the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences at Kenya's University of Nairobi, has extensively researched a variety of drought-tolerant beans in Kenya. Over the years, his research has been made possible by funds from overseas. Professor Kimani says the Kenyan government has tried funding research, but intermediaries are killing the research flows between government and the researchers. “The current government allocated five billion to research, but 4.5 billion was returned to treasury as researchers could not access it. How do you convince the same government to allocate another fund when what is provided to you was not used” asks professor Kimani. What needs to be done? How is this impacting availability of climate change data in Kenya? Listen to our conversation.…
Kibera- the biggest informal settlement in Kenya and possibly in the African continent. According to UN-Habitat, Kibera has the highest settlement density of any settlement in Kenya estimated at 250,000 people. Today, we speak to Stephen Oduor, the founder Kibera Plastic initiative - a youth-led community-based organization ridding the slum of plastic waste. The informal settlement has generally a poor system of solid waste management. With waste mainly dumped in open areas, Oduor says Ngong River has long been a leading dumping site for the locals. Kibera plastic initiative cleans Ngong river monthly, collecting plastic waste and selling it to recycling companies in Nairobi. The Youth-led organization also supplies the slum dwellers with litter bags while educating the children on environmental protection. What are the impacts realized? Then we head to the Seychelles island, located along the Western Indian Ocean, and home to about 115 islands. Seychelles banned plastic bags, cutlery and take away boxes in 2017. Axelle Bodwell, the SIDS Youth AIMS Hub- SYAH Seychelles, tells the Africa Climate Podcast the youth group efforts leading to the ban, and managing plastics already existing in the country before he ban. We also speak about last month’s UN Environment historic resolution at the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi to end plastic pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024.…
In 2019, Kenya imported 185,000 tones of second-hand clothing or mitumba - about 8,000 containers. The clothes and shoes sold in the second-hand markets started as donations from rich nations to charitable organizations meant for developing nations. But over the years, the second-hand industry grew from donations to a market amounting to paid taxes of about Ksh12 billion in 2019. Unfortunately, these clothes are becoming a hazard in the afterlife. They are either burnt, adding toxins to the environment, or dumped in landfills and clogging waterways. Africa collect textiles (ACT), collects and recycles used textiles and footwear in Kenya and Nigeria. In Kenya, a co-founder, Alex musembi says ACT started collecting 100Kg a year of used textiles in 2019 to 20,000Kg now targeted at 50,000Kg annually. Today the company exports one container of handmade carpets, rags, toys, jackets, backpacks, among other items, to Europe while selling locally. The second-hand clothes are already choking Kenyan environment. Despite Mitumba's finding their way to the environment, unfortunately, there has not been a focus on the industry's increasing pollution impacts. What solution exists in sustainably managing the secondhand clothes and the larger textile industry waste.…
Urban development in Kenya's Capital city, Nairobi, started when Nairobi was established as a railway headquarters in the late 19th Century. Despite numerous attempts at planning, Nairobi has operated for decades without a plan. Until 2014 when the Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan (NIUPLAN) expected to guide the city until 2030 was drawn. NIUPLAN comes after the 1973 Metropolitan Growth Strategy, which legally expired in 2003. Lack of finance, lack of commitments, and political will saw most of the 1973 strategy recommendations go unimplemented. Currently, most infrastructure developments being implemented were proposed by the 1973 strategy. Over the years, unplanned development has come up in areas originally zoned for agriculture, or low population density straining the current drainage system while encroaching on the green spaces that originally gave Nairobi its legacy of a green city in the sun. In today's episode, Dr. Lawrence Esho, a professor of spatial planning at the Technical university of Kenya and a practicing urban regional planner says lack of proper planning exacerbated Nairobi's sewer system challenges solid waste collection, and has seen industrial waste dumped in rivers over the years. Additionally, flooding due to surface runoff has become a norm in Nairobi. How far has Nairobi's urban development come? With decentralization, has the counties learned from previous planning mistakes?…
The IPCC has released the Working Group II report prepared by 270 scientists from 67 countries on the latest evidence on the impacts of accelerating Climate Change on humans and nature. Africa has contributed among the least greenhouse gas emissions, but countries like Madagascar requiring USD1B annually to adapt to climate change are heavily impacted by subsequent storms and cyclones. Climate Change impacts different regions in Africa differently, but IPCC project's the continent's temperature increases to be higher than the global average. Adaptation in Africa has multiple benefits but requires finance among critical issues for the continent during the UN annual climate summits. In today's episode, African IPCC lead authors explain climate impacts, the risks, and opportunities for the continent. The critical Urgency for research, climate finance, investment in early warning systems and why COP27 needs to pay more attention to adaptation.…
Tiny particles in the air reduce visibility. Also, cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated. Often referred to as PM2.5, the particles can travel deeply into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs. Exposure to fine particles can cause runny nose, shortness of breath, sneezing, eye, nose, throat, and lung irritation, as well as coughing. In today's episode, I host Sean Khan, the Global Environment Monitoring System Program Manager at the UN Environment, Owen Ombima, Safaricom Environment Manager, and Lawrence Mwangi, the Nairobi City County Deputy Director of Environment. The Nairobi City County has partnered with Kenya's leading mobile network provider, Safaricom, and the UN Environment to monitor and measure air pollution levels in the city. the partnership has been live-streaming the color-coded data on digital billboards to raise awareness among the city dwellers on the quality of the air they breathe daily. Green or UN Blue means the air is good. Red, brown, purple, or even orange means polluted air.…
Ghana’s air quality monitoring started back in 1996. Over the years, different sectors have joined hands to curb air pollution emanating from the transport sector, and solid waste management of which 60percent is collected. Additionally, dust storms from the northeast of Africa and extraction of precious minerals from e-waste has led the country to set up air quality monitors every four kilometers along the industrial, residential, and commercial areas. Today on the air pollution series, Ghana’s Environmental protection agency acting director, Emmanuel Appoh, tells us how the years of air quality monitoring have informed policy and development plans in Ghana. What challenges has the country faced and the systems Ghana put into ensuring air quality emissions reduction?…
Africa attracted about five percent of development funding and less than four percent of philanthropy funding to fight air pollution between 2015 – 2020 according to the 2021 report . Most sub-Saharan African countries are highly in debt. The 2022 international debt crisis report shows that sub-Saharan Africa's debt rose from $665 Billion in 2019 to 702B. With most of the funding is in the form of loans, how can governments fund monitoring and curbing air pollution without getting their nations deeper into debt?…
Cities in Africa are fast-growing. Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to have 13 megacities by 2100. A 2021 UN Environment report on Air Pollution and Development in Africa shows that outdoor air pollution was responsible for an estimated nearly 400,000 deaths across Africa in 2019. Economically, countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, and Rwanda annually are recurring losses in the economical production of between 0.08 and 0.3 per cent of gross domestic product. Sucking in dirty is the leading cause of sick and unproductive workers. In 2019 Ethiopia lost approximately $2.71 billion, Ghana $1.38 billion in Ghana, and Rwanda $308 million in output due to air pollution-related premature death. In today’s episode with Dr Alice Kaudia, the former Environment Secretary at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in Kenya, we discuss interlinkages between development and air pollution. Government policies, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, are not translating into actions at the village level despite the high health losses and the way forward.…
Did you know that you breathe about 150 liters of air daily and that the air you breathe goes directly to your lungs and bloodstream? Dr. George Mwaniki, the head of Air Quality at the World Resources Institute (WRI) Africa , says breathing in dirty air sucks in tiny particles that can damage lungs, hearts, and brains. The world health organization reckons that reducing air pollution levels can reduce the burden of diseases like stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma. In 2019, 1.1 million people died due to air pollution in Africa. Globally, air pollution causes over 7 million deaths annually according to Lancet. In Nairobi, Kenya, Dr. Mwaniki reckons that around 22,000 people die annually due to impacts of air pollution. UNICEF says Nigeria, recorded 78 percent of air pollution-related pneumonia deaths among children under five years in 2019.…
Africa’s growth has been accelerating for the last twenty years. Before the Covid-19 outbreak, Africa was on track to more than triple its population this century. While this growth is excellent, it brings enormous air pollution challenges. Air pollution is one of the most significant environmental risks to health. The world health organization reckons that reducing air pollution levels can reduce the burden of diseases like stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma. So, the three months series be about air pollution in Africa. We will investigate different sources of air pollution that include industries, transport – among the issues being - use of used cars often imported from other parts of the world mainly, often of poor quality and fail road-worthiness tests in the exporting countries. The series will also explore urban and agricultural waste, how African cities are at risk of turning into urban heat islands as the population grows and more space is required for the rising urban population and, finally, marine plastic pollution. Remember, if you are implementing a project in any of these areas, please write to us using info@africaclimateconversations.com or if you have a question or would like to contribute to the series, also feel free to write to us.…
A recent report on education by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) shows that 1 in every three families in Kenya and Uganda borrows money for school fees. Meet vulnerable students from Njumbi High school in Murang'a county in central Kenya whose parents cannot afford to raise their school fees since joining the school. The school office of the Champlain asked the school managed to allow it to manage the school canteen to help raise the fees that cater to these students' school fees, uniform, pocket money, or logistics to and back from school. What are the challenges the students faced? How does the canteen generate income, and how is the cover-19 pandemic jeopardizing the school's fundraising efforts? And how can you help put a smile on these children this holiday season?…
This December, I thought it best to look back into our communities as we approach the holiday season. Today, this episode highlights the economic impacts Covid 19 has had on schools, drug surges, and mental health impacts. As of November 2020, the World Bank data shows that the COVID-19 pandemic pushed an estimated two million people into poverty in Kenya. The economic and social disruptions induced by the pandemic would be evident this year during form one student registrations at Njumbi High school. Njumbi High school is located in Murang’a county in Central Kenya, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi. Fredrick Murage, the principal at the Anglican-sponsored school, says hundreds of parents could not raise fees. Murang’a County Executive Committee member in charge of Health Joseph Mbai told Africa Climate Conversations that three people die every week due to substance abuse. Njumbi high school chaplain James Kabiru told the Africa Climate Conversations since last year, during the nine months covid-19 school break, the school has observed a surge in drug and substance abuse among students.…
Annually, nearly 20 million people leave their homes due to climate-induced displacement, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 80 percent of those displaced are women and girls Women are key agents of change, but education is vital in developing required leadership traits. During the Gender Day celebrated during the just-concluded UN climate summit (COP26), the need to make climate finance more gender-responsive was noted as key. In today's episode, Camille Quénard, a gender expert specializing in Africa's climate change sector for a multilateral development bank, talks about the links between gender and climate change. Quénard has previously worked in Europe, North and South America for diverse international organizations to defend women's rights, including in refugee/displacement contexts, and explains how best financing and climate finance can be made more gender-responsive. Have a listen.…
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) latest report on global warming clearly shows that human influence is responsible for warming the atmosphere. In today's conversation, Africa Climate Conversations ask Dr. Mouhamadou Bamba Sylla, the AIMS-Canada Research Chair in Climate Change Science at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Rwanda, if the pledges made at the just concluded 26th UN summit on climate change (COP26) in Glasgow lead to reduced warming. One hundred four countries, among them the United States of America and the European Union, pledged to cut their methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030. Africa is pushing to exploit its natural gas as a baseload to catalyze uptake of renewable energy. Bamba Sylla, an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group 1 lead author, also expounds on why methane emissions are critical if the world is to stay within the Paris agreement temperatures goals? At Glasgow, the scientific community said that the largest emitters must reduce their emissions by a factor of 30, and the developing nations can increase their emission by factor three for the world to stay within the global carbon budget in a fairway. Can Africa eat fairly, meet its development agenda without emitting too many emissions into the atmosphere.…
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1 It's time for the African Union to lead Climate Negotiations for Africa, says Climate Negotiator. 41:34
Africa is the most vulnerable to climate change and among the most impacted by climate change. Under the international climate negotiations, the continent negotiates as a group under the African Group of negotiators (AGN) on climate change. However, 33 African countries are classified as Least Developed Countries (LDC) . The countries negotiate under the LDC negotiating stream under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process. Since Paris, during the 21st UN climate conference under the President of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris (COP21) Laurent Fabius, Africa was promised that its special needs and circumstances agenda would be considered. Kamal Djemouai, an independent climate change consultant and adviser to the AGN, told the Africa Climate Conversations that the agenda still deliberated under informal presidency instead of formal negotiations will not lead to any outcome. "It will be difficult to get the agenda recognised despite being among the most important agenda for Africa, but it's being used as a tactic to ensure Africa is flexible on other outcomes," says Kamal. Djemouai says it is time the African Union lead climate negotiations for Africa and become a UNFCCC and Paris Agreement Party. "The continent's position is side-lined on the final decisions taken at the UN conferences on climate change. African ministers need supporting and strengthening at the highest political level by the heads of states at the African Union level to ensure balance in negotiations." Despite the loss, what did Africa achieve at Glasgow?…
For the world to achieve the Paris agreement goals, climate finance which has been a contentious issue under climate negotiations, is critical. Also, implementing national commitments or NDC's is essential. Negotiators have been discussing long-term finance and the common time frame by which NDC's communicated by countries must be implemented. Today, Ambassador Mohamed Nasr, a former African Group of Negotiators Chair, and the current lead negotiator on finance explains where negotiations are on finance. Later on, Kassim Gawusu Toure, a climate activist and a junior negotiator with the AGN, will explain what common time frames are under NDC's, what Africa is pushing for, and why.…
Africa is the continent most vulnerable to climate extremes. The IPCC six assessment report (AR6) confirms the continent warms faster than the global average over both land and oceans. From experiencing the hottest weather in Egypt this August that has occurred in the last 50 years to cyclones and heavy rains that resulted in higher-than-normal vegetation growth providing ideal conditions for desert locusts in the horn of Africa. Unfortunately, Mariam Allam, the Adviser to the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) on Adaptation and a member of the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee, told the Africa Climate Conversations Podcast that Adaptation that has consistently lagged is being undermined at Glasgow. UN Environment's latest Emissions Gap Report finds new and updated Nationally Determined Contributions promises for 2030 put the world on track for a temperature rise this century of at least 2.7°C. Mariam says even a 1.5°C warming will have tremendous impacts on people, ecosystems, economies. Why is Adaptation critical? Why is it being undermined? What's Africa's plan on ensuring that the continent is protected by the end of the 26th UN Climate summit - COP26?…
Covid 19 has already demonstrated the availability of funds when a crisis occurs. Unfortunately, a report by nature shows that when it comes to providing finance for the climate crisis twelve years since Copenhagen, when developed countries promised to make available USD 100 billion annually for poor counties to address the climate crisis, it is clear - we are not yet there. However, a September OECD assessment of progress report indicates that developed countries provided and mobilised USD 79.6 billion in 2019. The goal was to have been met the USD 100 billion mark annually in 2020 and to be sustained to 2025. The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on Climate Change Ambassador Seyni Nafo says Africa has a better understanding of the financial resources the continent requires to build its resilience barely a week before the 26th UN Climate summit at Glasgow. Will Africa manage to push for a new post-2020 climate finance plan? African countries have shown their commitment to the Paris agreement by submitting Nationally Determined Contributions requiring USD 3trillion to implement. But at COP26, will developing countries raise their ambitions on promises and providing finance? How do developing countries ensure accountability and actions from their rich nations counterparts? Climate change impacts are becoming frequent and severe. In September, due to rising temperatures, Madagascar suffered a climate change-induced famine as it experienced its worst drought in 40 years. The disaster is the beginning of severe ones as world temperatures rise; who pays for the loss and damage caused by climate change? What is the African position on the Warsaw Loss and Damage mechanism, carbon markets under article 6, and adaptation? With most African delegates expected not to attend COP26 due to financial constraints, Covid19b restrictions, among other issues, how will the few delegates ensure the African voices are heard? Would you or your institution like to contribute scientifically to the negotiations, listen to Ambassador Nafo on how you can get in touch with the negotiators.…
The climate emergency is worsening. The world has witnessed record-high temperatures, widespread wildfires, and increasingly unpredictable floods and droughts. IPCC report on climate science is unequivocal; human activity is to blame. The report reinforced the absolute urgency of closing the 2030 emissions gap if the world limits warming to 1.5°C. The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are countries' commitment stipulating how countries plans on cutting their emissions in half by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. Hence, NDCs are vital in achieving the Paris goal. The Paris goals aim to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. However, Today, we talked to Mr. Gebru Jember from the Global Green Growth Institute and a former Least Developed Country (LDC) chair. Jember says even if all African nations implemented their NDCs, without developed nations – responsible for historical emissions - raising their ambitions, the world would not amount to much temperature reduction. But, what role do the developing nations also have?…
The Kyoto protocol recognised Africa for its vulnerability to climate change. But under the Paris agreement, Africa lost that recognition. The African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) says Africa's special needs and circumstances need reinstating. Home to 17 percent of the global population, Africa contributes less than four percent of global emissions and is the most vulnerable continent to climate change. Already experiencing 1.8 degrees warming - according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the AGN reports show adapting to climate change is already costing the continent between three and nine percent of their annual GDP. Unfortunately, the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) - some of the most vulnerable to climate change – opposed the motion during the 25th UN Climate change meeting in Madrid, Spain. Interestingly, 33 African countries are recognized as LDC's. Today Kamal Djemouai, an independent climate change consultant and adviser to the AGN, tells us why Africa needs its special needs and circumstances recognized under the Paris agreement. COP26 - the annual UN climate change meeting occurs between 31 October and 12 November in Glasgow, Scotland. Listen to the previous episode on the history of climate change negotiations and what shapes negotiations for the continent at COP26.…
This episode marks the beginning of building momentum to the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference also known as COP26. We start by contextualizing the current climate change negotiations by looking back to where it originated and how it has evolved. To walk us through that journey, I am joined by a James Murombedzi, a climate change policy and governance expert. COP26 is scheduled in the city of Glasgow, Scotland between 31 October and 12 November 2021. Have a listen and please send your contribution to info@africaclimateconversations.com or through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We are on socials as Africa climate conversations. The series runs through October to November 2021.…
The 26th annual UN climate conference will occur between 31 October and 12 November this year in Glasgow, Scotland. Did you know that the climate journey did not start at COP21 with the Paris agreement in 2015? In June 1972, the first world conference to make the environment a critical issue was held in Stockholm, Sweden. That is the United Nations Conference on the Environment. Twenty years later, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was held in June 1992. Among the five global agreements signed then was the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (UNFCCC). In this series, expected to run through October to November, we will discuss the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), African push for recognition for their special needs and circumstances, just transition, Africa’s position at COP26. Critical issues for the continent include finance, adaptation, loss, and damage, among others. Please, remember to interact with us via email info@africaclimateconversations.com, our social media pages - Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, or leave us a comment on our website .…
Africa representing over 17 percent of the world population, is responsible for less than four percent of global emissions. But the continent has significant assets in terms of carbon sinks. Jean-Paul Adam, the director for Technology, Climate Change, and Natural Resources at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), says the Congo basin alone accounts for three years’ worth of global emissions in its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide. Africa’s agenda 2063 aims at industrializing the continent. But given the temperature rise globally, the continent has to develop but in a low carbon way. Hence, the continent might require some more time to transition from fossil fuel-based energy to low carbon pathways. Why is Just transition critical for the continent now? Listen to how Africa can build better given the Covid-19 and Climate Change twin challenge. Finance is key to unlocking sustainable development. In Africa, climate change is about development and providing sustainable pathways for people to have viable livelihoods. But, Adam says it costs African countries about five to six times more to borrow money for investment in a green recovery. How can nations raise funds to upscale the amount of money available to invest in their climate resilience? What opportunities exist through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) for sustainable value chains? Last week on 13-17th September in Cabo Verde island, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) organized the Ninth Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-IX), themed - towards a just transition that delivers jobs, prosperity and climate resilience in Africa - leveraging the green and blue economy.” So, on this episode, Adam explains how Africa is financing her green and blue economy, why a just transition is critical when climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic are hard-hitting economies, and why investing in growing economies like Africa is key for global recovery.…
A 2021 report Climate Crisis Is a Child Rights Crisis by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) notes that today's children and young people face an uncertain future because of the impacts of climate change. Globally, almost every child on earth is exposed to at least one climate and environmental hazard, shock, or stress such as heatwaves, cyclones, air pollution, flooding, and water scarcity. Creating an incredibly challenging environment for children to live, play, and thrive. In Africa, young people living in the Central African Republic, Chad, Nigeria, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau are the most at risk. In Kenya's Gikambura Primary school, Located in Kikuyu sub-county, Kiambu County, an environmental patron Mr. Paul Njoroge is equipping pupils with green skills. Skills critical for their adaptation to future impacts of climate change. How did the school's sustainability journey begin, what are the benefits the school has seen? Listen to today's episode.…
This week, we are talking about empowering children to conserve biodiversity and the environment. It is what Miti Alliance has been doing for the last nine years. Miti Alliance is a social enterprise focusing on planting and growing trees across schools, forests, communities aimed at planting five million trees by 2025 In 2020, the Miti alliance worked with 71 Schools, planted 50 kitchen gardens, trained 80 youths & women, and planted 10200 tree seedlings via the Miti Schools program, and distributed 81000 seed balls. Miti Alliance teaches children to plant and grow trees in their schools. In addition, they are collecting indigenous forest knowledge from the older generation and literature and passing it on to these younger generations. The knowledge seeds planted in these children today become the trees that hold tomorrow’s ecosystem in a world warming fastest every decade due to human activities such as deforestation, coal production, land-use change, among others. Already the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warns that there is no time left as the world has warmed exponentially due to human activities. I caught up with founder Michael Waiyaki the Miti Alliance founder at Gikambura primary school in Kenya's Kiambu County. He has been working with the pupils and teachers to set up a drip-irrigated kitchen garden. Listen to Waiyaki telling us how the Miti alliance works with schools.…
Did you know that a third of Africa's forests have already been lost, mainly to charcoal production? Yes, that is according to the world forest organization. In Kenya, the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) notes that more than 70 per cent of the domestic energy demand for cooking and heating has been met by charcoal over decades. For a ton of charcoal produced, about ten tones of wood are used . But, can charcoal be produced sustainably? Listen to Mary Njenga, a Bioenergy Research Scientist at World Agroforestry (ICRAF) on todays episode.…
Today we are in Kenya's Nakuru County in a town named Mai Mahiu meaning "hot water" about 60kms drive from Nairobi City. Here we meet Lydia Njung'e, the CEO of Eversave Briquettes Limited. Since 2010, Njung'e has been using agricultural waste materials for manufacturing briquettes. The business started after Njung'e; then, a poultry farmer lost over 2000 birds overnight to carbon poisoning. While seeking advice from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research institute, Njung'e was advised to use briquettes instead of traditional charcoal and her birds mortality rate dropped to zero. Njung'e would be called often to advise farmers in different forums on how she had stopped her bird's high mortality rates. With these forums, orders from Farmers started streaming in, and a business idea grew to produce briquettes for bird rearing and domestic use. Listen to previous podcast explodes here . Goal seven of the UN Sustainable development goals aim to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. More than 2.6 billion people worldwide still do not have access to clean cooking. Three out of four of these people live in sub-Saharan Africa. They still rely on wood, coal, charcoal, or animal waste for cooking and heating. How safe are charcoal briquettes compared to traditional charcoal?…
Human activities have warmed the climate at an exceptional rate as per the latest UN’s climate science report on the physical changes globally and expected to occur. The report on the physical science basis is the first outline of the three expected for the sixth assessment report. Publication of the second and third reports looking at how to adapt to these impacts and prevent the worst-case scenarios are expected early next year. What does this report mean for Africa?…
Korogocho is one of the largest slums neighbourhood’s northeast of Kenya’s city center. It is home to nearly 200,000 people. We are precisely at the Canaan bridge where the Nairobi river separates Korogocho slums and Dandora suburbs, home to Nairobi's main dumping ground – the dandora dumping site. Here, a group of youths known as Komb Green Solutions has reclaimed a landfill by the Nairobi River. A recreational park now occupies the park transforming the bridge once known as a crime hotspot to Korogocho haven where the community finds rest. The park is her children's official playground and acrobatics practice centre. The park was transformed from a landfill by Komb green solutions – a community-based organization based in Korogocho started in 2017 by youths' former criminals and commercial sex workers, seven men and three women. The park is providing space for teenagers practising acrobatic skills, how is this protecting early pregnancies? Are there other achievements the youth have achieved? What are the challenges they face? whats the future?…
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says that the world population is expected to grow to almost 10 billion by 2050. Further, by 2050, in every five children born, two will be born in Africa . Already, the rate of urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa is unmatched compared to the rest of the world. The urban population is expected to nearly triple to 1.34 billion people by 2050. Population increase means rising demand for food and increased pressure on natural resources such as land by which we grow food. In Kenya, John Mwaura Kiriko, a businessperson from Kikuyu town about 20 kilometres from Nairobi city, is growing fish in a greenhouse and rearing black soldier fly larvae to feed his fish protein alternative. The technology occupies about 30by15 feets land for each greenhouse. Mwaura has built two greenhouses where he is rearing about 5500 fish and tons of larvae. Mwaura uses the raised pond technology to construct ponds using timber placed on the ground and lined with dam liners. Kamau says the greenhouse farming raised pond technology is ideal for producing food for rising populations using the smallest available land. Sourced from Ecodudu – a waste-to-value company in Kenya, Black Soldier Flies (BSF) have transformed the waste into high-quality protein in the larvae stage. Used as alternative protein additives in animal feed. The eggs laid by the Black Soldier Flies are grown in greenhouse conditions within 21 days after which it's harvested. Mwaura has switched from horticulture for export business he has practiced for years to fish and larva farming. Why is the greenhouse farming raised pond technology ideal for producing food for rising populations using the smallest available land?…
In 2016, the Nyongara River flowing out of the Ondiri Wetland in Kikuyu town, Kenya about 20 kilometres from Nairobi city, nearly dried up. Raw sewerage from Kikuyu town drained at the Wetland. Forty-four greenhouse farms around the wetland abstracted water unregulated. Additionally, solid waste dumpsters had found a new dumping site. Fodder harvesters harvested grass around the Wetland, burning the area during the dry season, killing birds nesting and their young ones while destroying other Flora and Fauna.Friends of Ondiri wetland Kenya, rallied communities and farmers around Wetland. Faith-based organisations, civil societies, the business community, and institutions like schools are creating awareness on the importance of the Wetland, the risks the pollution was causing, and how they could commonly protect it. Wetlands are one of the world's most important environmental assets, existing on all continents. Wetlands are protected under the Ramsar Convention - an intergovernmental treaty providing the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources that came into force in 1975. They are critical to groundwater recharge, carbon intake from the industrial, vehicle, and other pollution making the world warmer, and help reduce storm and flooding damages. Between 1970-2015 the world lost approximately 35% of the world's wetlands, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN's state of wetlands report. Majorly due to climate change, population increase, urbanisation of coastal zones and river deltas, and changing consumption patterns. What is the status of Kenya's Ondiri Wetland now?…
We are at the Rwenshama fish landing site in Uganda at the shores of Lake Edward , one of the smallest African Great Rift lakes lying in the Western Rift Valley. Shared between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda Though existed since the '50s, there has not been a toilet or clean water. Fishers and traders defecated at the wetland next to the lake. Fish was actioned on a carpet laid on bare soil and sold off without cleaning. Fishing was unregulated. Over-fishing, inappropriate gear and methods, pollution, and land degradation saw fish stocks dwindle over time. As a result, the conflict between DRC and Uganda fishers grew as demand for dwindling stocks increased. But two years ago, an $8.1Million grant from the Global Environmental Facility to the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program ( NELSAP ) led to the construction of modern fish landing facilities. One in Uganda and two in DRC. NELSAP, through the Lakes Edward and Albert Integrated Management of Fisheries and Water Resources Management Project (LEAF II), constructed the fish handling facilities equipped with clean water, toilets, and fisheries offices. DRC has incorporated fish cooling facilities and a modern market on their facilities. Additionally, fishing regulations were introduced not just in Uganda but in DRC as well. Only licensed fishers from both countries can fish with local fishing nets. How improved sanitation and fish regulation has improved the fishing communities' lives? Has the fishing conflict reduced?…
A 17-year-old secondary school student from Niger's 2nd largest city Zinder Faiza Habou and her mother earn a living out of cracking nuts and pounding wild fruits on contract under the Sahara Sahel foods. "These fruits were a delicacy back in the village while growing up. My mother worked as a house help to feed and educate our family of 12 children until the packaging of the wild fruits started in 2014," Habou told the Africa Climate Conversations . "Cracking the wild fruits has enabled us to go to school, afford daily bread. Someday, I dream of becoming a judge" Habou is among 1500 rural smallholders farmers — 80% women and youths from 70 villages from the south-central and southern-eastern Niger. They harvest or crack wild fruits contracted by the Sahara Sahel Foods. Josef Garvi, the executive director at Sahara Sahel Foods, told the Africa Climate Conversations Podcast that Sahara Sahel Foods had produced 60 food products based on 19 different native tree species. The fruit's trees include tamarind, hamza, Marula, jujube, desert dates, baobab, Sahel raisin, Christ thorn, Doum palm fruits, and the Black prune. The processed edible fruits and powder are sold in supermarkets in Niger; some are exported to neighboring countries like Nigeria, Benin, or Burkina Faso, while the desert date oil is shipped to the United Kingdom. Listen to other podcast episodes here. The Sahara Sahel Foods works together with Rewild. Earth a research institution to train fruit collectors on tree propagation techniques. Garvi says the revision of forestry and agroforestry policies recognizing Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) has allowed farmers to own trees on farms encouraging them to incorporate trees alongside millet, sorghum ad groundnuts. In the past 25 years, the international food policy research institute notes that the Niger republic has rehabilitated over 10 million hectares of bare land. Mieke Bourne, the Regreening Africa Programme Manager at the World Agroforestry, told the Africa Climate Conversations Podcast that creating value for the food products improves the value of the wild fruits, a catalyst for protecting these indigenous people landscapes.…
From 06th July, we are starting a new series highlighting environmental solutions. We will go to the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo along Lake Edward one of the smaller African Great Lakes shared by these two countries. We will find out how a new fish landing site equipped with water and sanitary facilities is changing fishers’ lives who defecated in the nearby bush for years, sold fish straight from the lake without cleaning it due to lack of clean water. After that, travel to the Niger West of Africa. In the second biggest city of Zinder. We meet communities earning a living from harvesting, pounding and selling wild fruits. How are these communities allowing natural regeneration of the wild fruits on their farms, contributing to the greening of the Sahel while improving their livelihoods? What wild fruits are there? Listen to previous episodes series here Before returning to Nairobi and Cape Town, South Africa looking into greening cities as the population grow, and skyscrapers take up every available space. Why are these green spaces essential? How are they improving lives among youths in these cities? Are you implementing an environmental solution on the ground within Africa that you would like featured in this series? Please write to us using info@africaclimateconversations.com…
In Africa, approximately 51 million square miles of land - 43% percent - of the continent is classified as rangeland. Mostly occupied by pastoralists, rangelands support meat supply within cities. Rangelands are also home to Africa’s big five games like the elephants, leopards, lions, buffalos, rhinoceros hence contributing highly to countries GDP through tourism. Loupa Pius says unfortunately these are neglected ecosystems attracting less attention compared to other ecosystems like the rainforests. Pius says unfortunately pastoralists governance systems are not strengthened to support natural resource management. Mainly because many African governments lack policies recognising the extensive livestock production and mobility as important in restoration, recovery and supporting food systems. At the same time, pastoralists use natural indicators such as migratory birds and certain plant species to migrates. But due to change in rainfall, landscapes and vegetation change over time and conflict related to land use these natural indicators have changed altering grazing and migration patterns. This episode is part of the Restoration of the African Dryland series is a six-part series on the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Africa Digital Conference led by the Center for the International Forestry Research ( CIFOR ) and the World Agroforestry Centre ( ICRAF ), in collaboration with its co-founders UNEP, the World Bank, and its Charter Members.…
70 percent of GLF Africa participants were aged between 18 to 35 making up 3000 of the 7000 registered participants. Cities Alliance, a global partnership fighting urban poverty and promoting the role of cities, notes that almost 60 percent of Africa's more than 1 billion people are under the age of 25, making Africa the world's youngest continent. The youth are a massive resource. The youth are technologically astute with a capacity to deal with technology compared to other age groups. They are more invested in sustainable means of Restoration and adaptation as climate change impacts their current and future livelihoods. But are they fully engaged? Do they have access to means of implementation? Do they have access to mentorship? "Let us not look at land just as space needed to build houses and grow food but as open safe spaces where young people can meet and share innovative ideas" Diana Kyalo, a land right activists, founder, and writer at Land Pages told the Africa Climate Conversations . Amina Aden, a Research scientist at the Kenya Forestry Research Institute ( KEFRI ) currently, the only female forestry researcher in North Eastern Kenya, says the youths are not participating in critical decision-making processes. Aden believes involving youth and women would provide a mentorship ground and allow them to share their input. This episode is part of the Restoration of the African Dryland series is a six-part series on the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Africa Digital Conference led by the Center for the International Forestry Research ( CIFOR ) and the World Agroforestry Centre ( ICRAF ), in collaboration with its co-founders UNEP, the World Bank, and its Charter Members.…
Today Salina Abraham, the Global Landscape Forum strategic adviser joins me as we investigate what was achieved last week during the conference. In this conversation in we talk about the critical issues of finance. How do Africa finance dryland restoration this decade now identified as the UN decade of restoration? How best can Africa take advantage of its massive population of robust youth, among many other issues. Are you aged between 18 and 35 years old and have initiated a restoration project in forests, mountains, oceans, peatlands/wetlands, and drylands/rangelands ecosystems? Then this opportunity is for you. Also, would you like to foster regular gatherings of like-minded stakeholders to accelerate restoration activities within their landscapes? Check out this opportunity . The Restoration of the African Dryland series is a six-part series on the upcoming Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Africa Digital Conferenceled by the Center for the International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). In collaboration with its co-founders UNEP and the World Bank and Charter Members.The GLF 2021 Conference will be happening online tomorrow the 2nd and 3rd of June this year.…
The Global Landscape Forum Africa 2021 kicks off tomorrow, the 2nd June, for two days. The digital conference dubbed “Restoring Africa’s Drylands - Accelerating Action on the Ground” will be 2021’s only conference on drylands restoration. The conference will play an essential role in identifying knowledge gaps while seeking solutions to the challenging issues facing drylands and the people that live in them. Why is this conference critical for the African drylands now? What is being done on the ground to accelerate their protection and restoration? Africa climate conversations podcast posed this question to the Regreening Africa -CIFOR-ICRAF’s program manager, Mieke Bourne, Dr. Mary Njenga, a bioenergy research scientist at World Agroforestry , Dr. Agnes Kalibata), the President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa ( AGRA ), Fatou Jeng the Clean Earth Gambia founder and the International Water Management Institute ( IWMI ), ecosystems principal researcher Chris Dickens. As you listen to today’s episode, Click here to register incase you haven't registered for the GLF Africa 2021 Conference. The Restoration of the African Dryland series is a six-part series on the upcoming Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Africa Digital Conference led by the Center for the International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). In collaboration with its co-founders UNEP and the World Bank and Charter Members. The GLF 2021 Conference will be happening online tomorrow the 2nd and 3rd of June this year.…
Every year, research by the World Resources Institute WRI indicates that Africa losses nearly 3 million hectares of forests. The continents 65% of the land is affected by degradation, and three percent of GDP is lost annually from soil and nutrient depletion on cropland. To tackle the high rates of degradation, African countries, after the Paris agreement, pledges to restore 100 million hectares on land by 2030 under the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100) Listen to previous episodes on the restoring drylands series Today, Bernadette Arakwiye, a research associate at the WRI Africa Forest Program, says 31 African countries have pledged to restore 128 million hectares of forests by 2030. Four million hectares are currently under Restoration across the 31 countries. AFR100 is A country-led effort contributes to the Bonn Challenge, the African Resilient Landscapes Initiative (ARLI), the African Union Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals, among other targets. As you listen to today’s episode, remember the GLF Africa 2021 Conference happens online on the 2nd and 3rd of June this year. Click here to register. The Restoration of the African Dryland series is a six-part series on the upcoming Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Africa Digital Conference led by the Center for the International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). In collaboration with its co-founders UNEP and the World Bank and Charter Members. The GLF 2021 Conference will be happening online on the 2nd and 3rd of June this year.…
In 2014, the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF) under the Climate Investment Fund (CIF) funded the Strengthening climate resilience project in the Kafue sub-Basin in Zambia . Engineer Indie Dinala, the project manager, told Africa Climate Conversations that farmers in the Kafue sub-basin would depend on wild fruits and wild tubers during drought. But today, the USD 38 million projects have introduced, among other measures - solar-powered irrigation projects enabling farmers to farm even during drought seasons. In addition, a climate-proofed road was built to enable private sectors to reach and buy farm products from the communities' farms. Thus, the adaptation measures have only created resilience but also improved nutrition and livelihoods. This Episode is part of financing change in Africa series made possible by a collaboration between the continent’s premier development finance institution – the African Development Bank Group , the Climate Investment funds and the Africa Climate Conversations.…
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