The African Science

10 | ASNS NEWS Sep - OCT | 2018
Climate change fuel conflicts
Climate experts are blaming escalating violent
conflicts in Africa to natural calamities occasioned
by climate change.
Henry Mutembei, scholar with Nairobi-based
Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and environmental
studies, warned that the continent’s stability
was at stake following climate change-linked disasters
that have fueled inter-communal skirmishes
and forced migration of productive segment of the
population.
“The nexus between climate change and surge
in conflicts, insecurity and migration in Africa is
overwhelming thus placing a heavier responsibility
on governments to address this phenomenon with
urgency,” said Mutembei.
He said noted that the Horn of Africa and Sahel
regions have become flashpoints as famines and
water stress disrupt the livelihoods of agro-pastoral
communities.
“Rapid desertification is already causing a migration
crisis and sporadic conflicts in the Sahel
region.
These climate refugees that are increasing in
numbers pose serious threats to global security,”
said Mutembei. He suggested that targeted investments
in resilience projects including climatesmart
agriculture and restoration of vital ecosystems
could forestall resources-based conflicts in
Africa.
Bethlehem Abebe, an analyst with regional bloc,
the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development
Prof Mutembei
(IGAD), said the security and forced migration dimension
of climate change in Africa should be accorded
priority. “It is evident that climate change is
causing forced mobility and tensions among communities
as they compete for scarce resources. What
is required now is better resilience for refugees and
host communities,” said Abebe. Ruth Omondi, a
conflict resolution specialist, said that skirmishes
linked to climatic shocks are bound to increase in
Africa hence the need for governments to prioritize
coping mechanisms for communities living
in the hotspots. “Severe climatic conditions are
pushing pastoralists and small-scale farmers to
the edges hence the need to develop adaptation
programs that ensures their livelihoods are not
destabilized,” said Omondi adding that regulated
mobility for communities affected by climatic
shocks was key to prevent conflicts.
Experts root for innovative
climate change financing
Shaddad
Greater focus on domestic resource
mobilization as opposed to dwindling overseas
support is key to sustain financing of climate
resilience projects in Africa, campaigners on
climate change have said.
Speaking during a Pan-African climate forum
in Nairobi head of Sudanese Environmental
Conservation Society Muawia Shaddad, said
African countries should enact robust policy
and legislative frameworks to bridge climate
financing gaps through domestic resource
mobilization.
“Over dependence on foreign donors to
finance climate change programs here in Africa
is no longer tenable and we have no choice but
to look for resources internally. It is doable given
the level of economic vitality in the continent,”
Shaddad said. He said African countries should
strengthen public private partnerships to scale up
their financing of climate resilience projects that
accelerate low carbon growth while generating
new jobs for the youthful population. Leader
of a Zambian small-holder farmers’ coalition
Robert Chimambo proposed higher taxation
on fossil fuels and mineral wealth abundant in
Africa to help finance climate change adaptation
and mitigation.“Part of revenue generated from
mining activities and exploitation of fossil
fuels should be channeled towards community
based resilience projects like reforestation,
water management and climate smart agropastoralism,”
said Chimambo. In countries such
as Kenya, the experts suggested that in addition
to the international support, Kenya needs to
increase budget allocations for climate change
adaptation and mitigation response actions at
national and county levels. In this case, the
counties are expected to prioritise climate
change interventions in their County Integrated
Development Plans (CIDPs), design climate
change programmes that respond to the needs.