How nature can help Africa adapt to the climate crisis
Even though Africa contributes the least to global greenhouse gas emissions yet, it is one of the regions hardest hit by climate change.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP’s) Adaptation Gap Report 2021, the estimated adaptation costs in developing countries are five to 10 times greater than current public adaptation finance flows. It is predicted that some African countries will need to spend up to five times more on adapting to climate change than they will on healthcare. And the costs of adaptation are only getting higher as the world fails to drastically cut its carbon emissions.
In Africa, more countries are turning to nature-based solutions to counter the impacts of climate change on agriculture, whether it’s heat waves or rising sea levels. In the Gambia, one of the largest development projects in the country’s history is restoring ecosystems to improve water security for farming. In Tanzania, mangroves have been restored along coastlines to protect fisheries and farms from rising sea levels and storm surges.
The practice of using nature-based solutions to adapt to climate change has been termed ‘ecosystem-based adaptation’, and it has the power to save both lives and livelihoods. The Ecosystem-based Adaptation For Food Security Assembly is a UNEP initiative that works to scale up the practice of ecosystem-based adaptation in Africa. It partners with diverse stakeholders, encouraging investments and leveraging critical enablers, especially those within the agricultural value chain. Find out more in the video below.
The Six-Sector Solution to the climate crisis
The United Nations Environment Programme is at the forefront of supporting the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C, and aiming for 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. To do this, UNEP has developed a Six-Sector Solution, a roadmap to reducing emissions across sectors in line with the Paris agreement commitments and in pursuit of climate stability. The six sectors identified are: Energy; Industry; Agriculture and Food; Forests and Land Use; Transport; and Buildings and Cities.
UNEP is at the front in support of the Paris Agreement goal of keeping the global temperature rise well below 2°C and aiming – to be safe – for 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. To do this, UNEP has developed a Six-Sector Solution roadmap to reducing emissions across sectors in line with the Paris Agreement commitments and in pursuit of climate stability. The six sectors are Energy; Industry; Agriculture and Food; Forests and Land Use; Transport, and Buildings and Cities. The UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in November 2022 will focus on adaptation, finance and a just transition – and you can do your part by acting now on your own consumption or speaking up to voice your concerns.
Source: Unep.org