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Another matter of immediate concern with long-term implicationsfor Africa’s development is climate change. All recent studies showthat although Africa contributes least to global greenhouse gas emissions,it is one of the most vulnerable regions to the negative impactof climate change. It has been reported for instance that the glaciersof Mount Kilimanjaro have shrunk by 98% over the last century,while water levels have seriously decreased in major lakes such asLake Chad, which has lost over 50% of its water since 1973.Our collective efforts should therefore remain strongly focused onmitigating the impact of climate change, adapting to its effects andobtaining the required technology and finance to support adaptationand mitigation. These concerns were brought to the fore at the UNConference on Climate Change which took place in Bali, Indonesia,and as part of the contribution of the United Nations system, ECAwill be establishing an African Climate Policy Centre here in AddisAbaba to provide technical backstopping to Africa on this matter.The issue of climate change is very closely linked to the industrialdevelopment of Africa, because there are concerns that proposedresponses to climate change might make the path for industrialisationin Africa more difficult. Of course, this need not be the case.As a matter of fact, it is quite timely and appropriate to deliberateindustrialisation in Africa because industrial expansion is needed totransform African economies through increases in productivity, improvedskills and creation of additional opportunities for decent andproductive work.Industrial development in Africa will also reduce the dependence ofAfrican countries on production and export of primary commoditiesas well as integrate African firms and businesses into global valuechains and help the continent to become dynamic, diversified andtechnologically advanced. We therefore need to strengthen our industrialcapacities, improve productivity and competitiveness andraise the quality and standard of local products so as to be betterable to use the increasingly available opportunities in internationaltrade.In recognition of the key role of science and technology in developmentand its potential contribution to the industrialisation of Africa,a Science with Africa Conference was organised to follow-up on theIntegrating Africa27