climate change - The African Mirror

Jun

15

2023

Nigeria needs to take climate action: 4 urgent steps to start with

CLIMATE change is not just a buzzword or a topic for political debates. It is a real and pressing issue that affects every aspect of our lives. The effects of climate change are already being felt worldwide, from rising sea levels to heatwaves, droughts, floods, loss of biodiversity, food insecurity and more. Author OLASUNKANMI HABEEB OKUNOLA, Visiting Scientist at the United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), United Nations University In Nigeria, climate change has contributed to the country’s mounting economic and social challenges. The country has acknowledged the need to move to a low-carbon future.…

May

19

2023

By The African Mirror

Almost 250,000 flee floods in Somali city that ‘became like an ocean’

NEWS

FLOODS have caused almost a quarter of a million people to flee their homes after the Shabelle River in central Somalia broke its banks and submerged the town of Beledweyne, even as the country faces its most severe drought in four decades, according to the government. Aid agencies and scientists have warned climate change is among the key factors accelerating humanitarian emergencies, while those impacted are some of the least responsible for CO2 emissions. Seasonal rains in Somalia and upstream in the Ethiopian highlands triggered flash floods that washed away homes, crops, and livestock, and temporarily closed schools and hospitals in…

Mar

16

2023

By The African Mirror

Factbox: Why is Cyclone Freddy a record-breaking storm?

NEWS

NELLIE PEYTON TROPICAL cyclone Freddy hit the coast of southern Africa for a second time over the weekend, bringing its total death toll to more than 220 people in Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar. The month-long storm has broken at least one record and could break two more, meteorologists say. As climate change causes warmer oceans, heat energy from the water's surface is fuelling stronger storms. Below are some of the main reasons Freddy is noteworthy. HIGHEST CYCLONE ENERGY Freddy holds the record for most accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), a measure based on a storm's wind strength over its lifetime, of any storm in…

Jan

21

2023

By The African Mirror

Climate change is threatening Madagascar’s famous forests – our study shows how serious it is

ENVIRONMENT

GLOBAL climate change doesn’t only cause the melting of polar ice caps, rising sea levels and extreme weather events. It also has a direct effect on many tropical habitats and the animals and plants that inhabit them. As fossil fuel emissions continue to drive climate change, large areas of land are forecast to become much hotter and drier by the end of this century. Authors DANIEL HENDING, Postdoctoral Research Assistant Animal Vibration Lab, University of Oxford MARC HOLDERIED, Professor in Sensory Biology, University of Bristol Many ecosystems, including tropical forests, wetlands, swamps and mangroves, will be unable to cope with…

Jul

30

2022

By The African Mirror

Women entrepreneurs in Africa face more climate risks than their male peers

ENVIRONMENT

THE world’s climate is changing. All of us will ultimately be affected by climatic shifts – but some will be hit harder than others. On the African continent, for instance, small businesses are on the front lines of climate change. Over 50% of the African labour force works in agriculture, which is both very exposed to and dependent on climatic variability and change. But even businesses in urban centres are increasingly dealing with climate-induced challenges. These include unstable water and power supplies, extreme heat and flooding. These hazards interrupt processing and manufacturing activities. They also limit the transportation of goods…

Jul

28

2022

By The African Mirror

Coal industry is ‘delusional’, South Africa climate change official says

ENVIRONMENT

THE executive director of South Africa's Presidential Commission on Climate Change called the country's coal industry "delusional", saying the market for the fossil fuel is going to dwindle rapidly in the next decade. South Africa, which gets most of its electricity from coal-fired power plants, is grappling with rolling blackouts, while coal miners are exporting more of their product to take advantage of sky-high prices. "The industry is delusional, and I'm really struggling to get a sober conversation with the industry," Crispian Olver said at a conference on coal and the energy transition in Johannesburg. "Our view is the coal…

May

27

2022

By The African Mirror

Climate change isn’t a priority for Kenyan universities. It should be

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITIES can play a vital role in shaping change in societies. They produce knowledge through research, train future decision-makers, and contribute to public awareness of issues. But not all universities are rising to challenges like this. Studies have established that efforts to integrate sustainable development into African universities’ curricula and their community engagement processes leave something to be desired. Teaching and research don’t always reflect society’s real problems. Author JACKLINE NYERERE, Senior Lecturer of Educational Leadership and Policy, Kenyatta University Climate change is another area where universities should be identifying and providing solutions. It’s a complex, politicised and global issue…

May

05

2022

By The African Mirror

New forms of urban planning are emerging in Africa

AFRICITIES

RAPID urban growth and an increasing number of climate change related disasters, such as the recent floods in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, have put the importance of sound urban planning in Africa in the spotlight. Urban plans are seen as the key to achieving inclusive, safe and sustainable cities. But urban scholars have argued for decades that for plans to be effective we need to move away from the traditional way of doing things. This requires dropping a top down approach – master planning – and opting instead for strategic forms of planning that are targeted, flexible and participatory. Authors…

Apr

27

2022

By The African Mirror

Climate may not directly drive conflict but it’s critical for building peace

ENVIRONMENT

CLIMATE change isn’t a direct driver of conflict. Most scientists agree on this and it’s reflected in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group II Report. There isn’t a straight line between climate-related risks and conflict-related outcomes. The report compares the impacts of climate change with those of other global trends. The latter include “biodiversity loss, overall unsustainable consumption of natural resources, land and ecosystem degradation, rapid urbanisation, human demographic shifts, social and economic inequalities and a pandemic”. It finds that: Compared to other socioeconomic factors the influence of climate on conflict is assessed as relatively weak. But the…

Mar

25

2022

By The African Mirror

Discovering the forest wonders of Africa – and the threats they face

ENVIRONMENT

AFRICA'S forests are some of the natural wonders of the world. As someone who has spent decades studying the ecology and management of tropical forests, I’m constantly amazed by the unique forest ecosystems on the continent. Author ROBERT NASI, Director General, Centre for International Forestry Research Some of them are most likely unknown to the public at large, yet so fascinating and important to face our world’s current biodiversity and climate challenges. Starting in the north-west and ending in the south-east, I’d like to share the ones that are special to me. This is a totally personal choice; others would…