International Institute for Environment and Development (London)
3 November 2009
book listing
Impacts of climate change on Africa's development and prospects for the continent's growth in a new low-carbon economy are among the subjects covered in a new book by the director of the International Institute for Environment and Development, Camilla Toulmin.
Climate Change in Africa is published by Zed Books and will be launched tonight (3 November) at the Royal Commonwealth Society in London, where Toulmin will argue that African voices will need to be much louder if the global deal due to be sealed in December in Copenhagen is to serve Africa's interests.
"If we allow the global average temperature to rise by two degrees, that will spell disaster for many of Africa's people," says Toulmin. "The funds currently on offer for adaptation to climate change are tiny in relation to what the continents needs, and costs will escalate the longer we delay action to cut greenhouse gases in industrialised countries."
The book outlines current thinking and evidence about the impact climate change will have on Africa's development prospects.
In this accessible and authoritative book, Dr Toulmin uses case studies to examine issues ranging from natural disasters to biofuels and from conflict to the oil industry. The book considers what future there might be for Africa in a carbon-constrained world, and identifies areas of promise as well as challenge.
"Climate change will be enormously damaging for poorer parts of the world, leading to crises with crops, livestock, water supplies and coastal areas," says Toulmin. "Within Africa, it's likely to be the continent's poorest people who are hit hardest. Yet there will also be new opportunities around global carbon management where African countries have much to offer."
Climate Change in Africa has received advance praise from leading thinkers in the climate-change arena.
Lord Nicholas Stern, author of the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, said: "This is a very clear, reasoned and thoughtful book which will be of great importance in the crucial discussions which lie ahead."
Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel peace prize winner, said: "This new book takes a timely look into the policies, politics and roles different actors in society need adopt to effectively address climate change."
Duncan Green, head of research at Oxfam said: "In the run up to the Copenhagen climate summit, this book should be required reading for anyone wishing to get to grips with the multiple interconnections between climate change and development in the world's poorest continent."
Wolfgang Sachs of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, said: "Speaking about global warming, who really thinks of Africa? Read Toulmin's book to fully grasp the double injustice of our time: Africa, though without any responsibility for climate change, will dramatically suffer; and yet, the innocent victim is not given much voice at the ongoing climate negotiations."
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A very interesting and thoughtful article. The best way for Africa to help itself with GHG is to stop exporting oil and gas to the outside world. Gas that is valuable enough to ship abroad and sell should be sold at a price that is competitive enough to keep it home. Catch all of that gas, and use it for yourselves. You will then have electricity and cooking fuel both. It is maddening to see forests felled for charcoal cooking fuel while cleaner-to-use gas is being wasted. Each of your nations should try to be the last to run out of fuel. Move to solar, wind, geothermal and biofuels from wastes for your energy sources.
Other activities to fight climate change troubles include the restoration of your waterways to full functionality by clearing the weeds that clog them and the silt that they have left behind.
Just a factual correction. Nigerian LNG is not sold to Benin, Togo and Ghana. There is a gas pipeline from Nigeria to these three countries. But it does not carry LNG. It carries natural gas under pressure. Unfortunately, becuse there is insufficient gas being gathered and shipped from Nigeria, the pipeline has been empty for over a year.
In today's climate talk that's going and will be converse more in December must not be damaging to Africa. Together, Africa MUST STAND FIRMLY and get what she deserves - BETTER and LASTING AGREEMENT. That's, what is beneficial for Africa. Any negativities effects concerning our people standard of living MUST NOT be accepted by any Africa Government. The days of a/an African Live seeing as less than an insect or any other most be OVER and SHOULD NOT be negotiated in any Climate talks. Our "Africans" lives and living standard is/are as important as any other lives. Therefore, as Africans head to the climate talk in December, please open your ears, listen carefully, don't be trick, and don't accept anything lesser to solve your prombles for the betterness of your people in the whole of Africa - period !!!!! The days of damaging Africans' lives, enviroment, living conditions; the physical and metal abuses should and most all come to an end. Therefore, we "Africans" should not be conveince with their sweet tooth to accept something lesser where'in our people keep continue to suffer and die for their pleasures and the lack of consideration for Africans lives and living standards. God Bless Africa
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