Loud calls from scientists for climate change research funding

Researchers, students and administrators from universities in Cameroon agreed that building the scientific capacity and knowledge of environmental stakeholders should be a priority in higher education institutions to come up with solutions for the climate crisis.

A recent two-day international conference at the University of Buea (UB) attended by about 3,000 people focused on climate solutions and innovation in the era of information technology, while also providing climate journalism training to students. The event served as preparation for those who will be following and participating in COP29, the United Nations’ annual climate conference, which started on 11 November in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The researchers emphasised the need for financial and other forms of support to find research-based solutions that will help reduce the negative consequences of climate change for societies in Africa, in general, and to protect vulnerable groups, in particular.

“Changes in precipitation levels, the likely increase in extreme temperatures and rising sea levels will continue to have wide-ranging direct and indirect impact on Africa. To adapt to these and future climate challenges, it is necessary to understand what the future changes to the climate are likely to be, the direct and indirect impact of these changes in different regions, and the appropriate adaptation responses to these impacts.

“This important information can be provided through research findings. That is why funding research in climate adaptation is key,” said Professor Emmanuel Tata, a lecturer in climatology and environmental governance at UB, speaking at the conference. This appeal was repeated by several speakers during the event.

Tata presented a paper, ‘Climate-induced migration and agro-pastoral conflicts in Africa’s Sahel region: Impacts on security and the role of technology in early warnings’, in which he shared some research on how climate-induced migration and conflicts in the Sahel region can be tackled.

“We have to deal with the vulnerability of our communities in Africa to avoid making a bad situation worse,” he said.

Collaboration

According to UB Vice-Chancellor Professor Horace Ngomo, who chaired the conference, climate change and conflicts are a global concern that calls for community actors to work together. It also necessitates cross-border collaboration by experts and financial support to facilitate quality research.

“The University of Buea is open to collaborate with other higher education experts across the globe in seeking climate change solutions. Collaboration and support are the key to quality and results-oriented academic work,” Ngomo said.

He lauded the University of Florida, United States, for knowledge sharing and exchange collaboration with UB, calling for more such support.

Dr David Cuillier, representing the Brechner Center for the Advancement of the First Amendment at the College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida in the United States, acknowledged the need to close the climate finance gap in the fight against climate change. He also spoke about the youth’s role in climate change.

“I feel elated that 85% of the conference participants are the young generation. The young researchers and students are the hope for the future in the fight against climate change. They need to be encouraged,” Cuillier told conference participants in his keynote address, which also emphasised the critical shortfall in climate finance for Africa.

Expert presentations

Experts also presented their research geared towards driving climate solutions.

The scientists agreed that, with its huge natural and rich Congo-Basin forest serving as carbon stock absorber, Africa can drive solutions to fight against climate change, thus the need for international support for African scientists, academics and researchers to buckle down to come up with more quality innovative research in the climate solution drive.

Professor Patience Usongo, an assistant professor of bio-geography and a UB researcher, focused on the coastal perception, vulnerability and household adaptation to flood hazards in certain areas. Her research work proved that the beach area in the south-west of Cameroon is vulnerable to floods and its damage to infrastructure, such as roads, is extremely costly.

“Climate change is not only retarding development in Africa, but also costing us the little development we already have,” she told University World News.

Dr Nsah-ko Tchoumboué of UB, in his research, focused on ‘enhancing congestion process technology for climate change mitigation in agro-industries in Cameroon’.

Dr Eunice Fondze-Fombele and Professor Fidèle Ntie Kang presented a paper titled 'Technological Metaphor in selected African Climate Fiction: imagining resilience and challenges of an emerging scientist’.

In a paper titled, 'Performance evaluation of seasonal precipitation forecasting for June-September over West Africa' Ntie Kang also shared some insights on the region's changing climate.

Journalism training

The international conference took place alongside a training workshop of some 300 journalism and mass communication students.

The training programme, funded by the Pulitzer Center in collaboration with UB’s journalism department and the Community Initiative for Development Communication, CODEC Cameroon, a local NGO, was geared towards creating a Climate Journalism Incubator in the department to encourage graduates to specialise in environment and climate change reporting.

The training was held under the theme, ‘Communicating Climate Change: The search for innovative solutions’, was facilitated by Elias Ngalame (the author of this article), an environmental journalist and writer for University World News.

The specialisation training, the journalism department’s representatives say, is part of the university’s objective to ensure easy self-employment for graduates.

“The university has a policy to encourage professional training and specialisation. In the department of journalism, we are encouraging our students to broaden their knowledge as professionals but, at the same time, specialise in disciplines of their choice.

“Climate change and the environment, for example, is an important area to specialise in,” Dr Nengieh Lizzie Wantchami, head of the department of journalism and mass communication, University of Buea, told University World News.

Professor Kingsley Lyonga Ngange, the deputy vice-chancellor of research, cooperation and relations with the business world at UB, encouraged students to take an interest in climate change reporting as a speciality.

The students acknowledged that training on climate change reporting could open new career avenues.

“The training permitted us to immerse ourselves in a wealth of knowledge that will be invaluable in our work and newsroom. It also offered both a dynamic learning experience and a priceless opportunity to build connections and gain new perspectives on climate change solution journalism in a global context,” Cyprain Bekhali, a fourth-year journalism student at UB, told University World News.