Africa ’s Negotiators Urged to Leverage on African Science at COP28 High Table

African researchers want African issues to be front and center as the continent comes to grips with climate change-induced impacts. Credit: COP28/Neville HopwoodBy Joyce ChimbiDUBAI, Dec 11 2023 (IPS) African scientists and researchers are concerned that the data shows that the continent is being cornered by the spiraling effects of climate change, that the real impact of climate devastation is yet to unfold, and that the region is on the cusp of more severe and catastrophic consequences. Given Africa’s high exposure and fragility to extreme and drastic changes in weather patterns, coupled with a low adaptative capacity, fears and concerns are rife that a failure to capture the full devastating picture on the ground could compromise Africa’s negotiating position at COP28 currently underway in Dubai. In a session titled ‘African Science for the African Position,’ delegates heard about the mismatch between existing data and the needs on the ground and why it is critical to highlight climate change research from the continent. “The focus of this conversation is really about data needs; the role of science from Africa but also across the global South to feed into the negotiating positions is overlooked. There is a need to improve our data and our social science in a way that provides accurate and comprehensive evidence for decision-making. Across climates—and of course here we are focusing on the UNFCCC—we are starting to look at critical inter-linkages around biod...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Africa Biodiversity Climate Action Climate Change Climate Change Finance COP28 Development & Aid Editors' Choice Environment Featured Food and Agriculture Food Security and Nutrition Headlines Health Human Rights Humanitarian Source Type: news