COP26: Africa’s perspective critical at climate talks

Coordination to increase cross-border information sharing and collaboration in climate-related crises should be strengthened across Africa. African unity – a collective voice – on climate change is also necessary, says Dr Elizabeth Effah.

Effah, who spoke to University World News about COP26, is a research fellow and the research theme lead on climate change adaptation and mitigation at the Centre for Coastal Management, which is also an Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience. It is based at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana.

UWN: In what ways is your country or sector affected by climate change?

Elizabeth Effah: Climate change represents a major threat to fisheries, coastal ecosystems and communities. In many areas around Ghana’s coast, the combined projected threats of a rising sea level, increased temperatures and reduced rainfall places unprecedented stress on species, ecosystems, human settlements and industries.

Climate change and variability have significant future and immediate consequences on Ghana’s coasts, the goods and services provided by coastal ecosystems, and coastal inhabitants.

Accelerated coastal erosion, loss of land and property, flooding, saltwater intrusion, shifts in the distribution and abundance of valuable marine habitats, species and biodiversity, and the spread of exotic and invasive species are major issues resulting from the impacts of climate change.

Other important factors include increased mortality, loss of coastal wetland ecosystems, decline in fish catches and productivity and ocean acidification, which potentially have a widespread effect on marine ecosystems.

UWN: How well are Africa’s voices represented at the conference?

Effah: I believe Africa’s voice is well-represented at the conference, with almost all of the continent’s leaders urging developed countries to stick to their commitments (financial, and to reduce emissions) and who are negotiating on mechanisms to determine frameworks for the sale of carbon credits in terms of emissions.

UWN: Regardless of representation … do you think Africa has a voice at the conference?

Effah: Yes, I would say so. We are all aware that Africa produces only approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the lowest of any continent, yet we are more vulnerable than any other region in the world, since our economy is based on climate-sensitive sectors.

Furthermore, Africa’s tropical forests tend to be more resilient as carbon sinks, which is critical for combating climate change and maintaining a stable climate.

As a result, discussing climate change adaptation and mitigation at the conference without Africa is a mistake, because global efforts to combat climate change must include an African perspective.

UWN: How important are the contributions of scientists at forums such as COP26?

Effah: In a variety of ways, scientific research can help inform and guide climate-related decisions. As a result, further research into the origins, mechanisms and consequences of climate change will aid in determining the threats that climate change poses to human and environmental systems.

Furthermore, the general public requires practical evidence on how to help reduce carbon emissions, which can only be obtained by scientific research.

With this background, I believe scientists play a critical role at such conferences in presenting empirical facts to inform adaptive and mitigation solutions.

UWN: What is your university doing about climate change?

Effah: One of the things we do is a short course on climate change adaptation and mitigation. It is offered by the Centre for Coastal Management, which is also an African Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience.

It is aimed at professionals from the government, non-governmental organisations and civil society groups, international organisations, industries, businesses and corporations, lecturers, students and individuals who wish to gain a comprehensive understanding of the application of modern tools such as geographic information systems (or GIS) and remote sensing and integrate the climate change concept into managing fisheries and coastal resources.

The training expands participants’ understanding of how climate change affects essential ecosystems in coastal areas. It emphasises how ecosystems and the livelihood activities linked to them may be assessed in order to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

The centre also offers postgraduate programmes (PhD and masters) in climate change adaptation and mitigation, which aim to improve students’ understanding of climate change and enable them to conduct research on the various impacts of climate change, with a particular focus on marine and coastal ecosystems as well as communities.

We also participate in outreach and extension activities to disseminate our research findings to stakeholders to inform policy decisions.

UWN: In what ways are you contributing, or have you contributed to COP26?

Effah: Colleagues at the centre are participating in the COP26 remotely in order to better understand the challenges surrounding climate change and to enrich the content of the centre’s professional trainings and postgraduate courses. This interview will also increase the visibility of the centre’s efforts to combat climate change.

UWN: Some agreements have already emerged at the gathering. What are the three most important things you would like to see coming out of the meeting?

Effah: The three most important things are:
• Developed countries should stick to their pledge of US$100 billion (by 2020) to help developing countries cope with the effects of climate change;
• Countries must contribute financial resources to climate change education and awareness; and
• All countries must sign the Paris Agreement and ensure its implementation.

UWN: What more can Africa do to elevate its voice on climate change?

Effah: I believe that African unity and coordination must be strengthened in order to increase cross-border information sharing and collaboration in the face of climate-related crises. If we all acknowledge that we are in this crisis together, our collective voice on climate change will undoubtedly grow.

UWN: How effective are regional and pan-African organisations in advancing the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement?

Effah: They are highly effective, in my opinion, because they continue to improve education and knowledge about the Paris Agreement across continents, as well as contribute to the execution of climate commitments at the national level within a supportive policy environment.