Devastating impacts of climate change need tailored response –scientists

Scientists have called for a tailored response to address the devastating impacts of climate change.

They said countries in Africa, such as Kenya, must lead in developing responses that align with unique needs, circumstances and priorities.

The scientists spoke on Wednesday during a two-day meeting in Nairobi.

The meeting came ahead of the planned seventh assessment cycle of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's report.

IPCC is a leading global institution for assessing and disseminating scientific findings on human-induced climate change.

The outcomes of the seventh cycle are crucial for guiding global climate action.

Currently, the world is facing threats from climate change, with Africa bearing the greatest brunt.

Today, there are more frequent and intensifying extreme climate events, such as droughts, floods, heatwaves, convective storms and tropical cyclones.

Due to the escalating climate risks, the seventh cycle is crucial, particularly in rapidly urbanising regions like Africa.

Environment PS Festus Ng'eno, who presided over the launch of the meeting, said climate change continues to pose a serious threat to the continent.

It impacts people, livelihoods, ecosystems and biodiversity, he said.

The role of strong science in shaping global environmental policy was stressed at the just-concluded sixth UN Assembly.

“Rightfully so, this science needs to be as representative as possible if it is to gain ownership across countries for policymakers to work with. The IPCC remains one of the most authoritative voices on climate change alongside other bodies,” Ng’eno said.

He said the sixth assessment cycle delivered improvements in regional representativeness.

However, there is still a lot of science from Africa that needs to get into the IPCC assessments.

Knowledge gaps that must be addressed.

“In this decade of action, what comes out of the IPCC needs to capture our unique, intricate, context specific needs if we are to develop evidence-based response measures. It is also crucial for us that the outputs of IPCC serve as a basis for our negotiations within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,” Ng’eno said.

The ongoing meeting serves to bolster urban resilience and bridge knowledge gaps specific to the continent's context.

It also seeks to foster collaboration, heighten awareness and advocate for active involvement in IPCC processes.

IPCC officials, AR6 lead authors and experts from climate-related domains are among those in attendance.

Africa Group of Negotiators Experts Support Team Lead George Wamukoya said Africa's participation in the IPCC's assessment cycles is essential in capturing the continent's unique challenges and perspectives.

“As we confront the escalating impacts of climate change, particularly in rapidly urbanising regions, it is imperative that Africa contributes fully to the generation of knowledge and the formulation of strategies to build resilience and mitigate risks," he said.

"Through collaborative efforts and strategic planning, we can harness Africa's expertise to drive impactful change and pave the way for a more sustainable future."

Kenya Meteorological department director David Gikungu said climate change affects Africa disproportionately.

“With Africa hosting half of the world’s most vulnerable countries, the region faces significant threats. Alarming statistics reveal that extreme weather killed at least 15,000 people last year in Africa,” he said.

Gikungu said it is imperative for Africa to take proactive steps to address climate change and safeguard its’ future.

He said adaptation is urgent.

UoN Vice Chancellor Professor Stephen Kiama said his institution gave some of its best researchers to lead the work of chapters in Working Group I as well as Working Group II of the IPCC during the sixth assessment cycle.

The two professors, Daniel Olago and Joseph Mutemi, are from the faculty of science and technology.

Kiama said the current IPCC National Focal Point for Kenya and the majority of Africa’s outstanding climate scientists are alumni of UoN, a testament to the quality of climate scientists the university is producing.

He said the special report on climate change and cities will play a pivotal role in fostering understanding of climate change impacts, risks and vulnerability.