A forum discussing Africa's most challenging issues has called on developed countries to exercise fairness in dealing with the effects of climate change and recognise contribution by developing countries in mitigating the impact of climate change.

This was the shared view by contributors of high level discussion forum organised

by Mo Ibrahim Foundation attended by prominent persons including former Botswana president Festus Mogae and the former Ireland vice-president Dr Mary Robinson.

The director of the Institute of Resource Assessment at the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof Pius Yanda, said when presenting a paper on 'Climate Change and Climate Justice,' that climate change was now a reality as its impact on the natural and social system in the African continent are experienced more than ever.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation that was founded three years ago, is dedicated to bring issues of governance to the heart of the debate around Africa's development.

The forum focused on the pressing challenges facing the African continent and which the foundation believes constitute an urgent agenda - Climate Change and Climate Justice, Agriculture and Food Security and Regional Economic Integration.

Africa is the least contributor of carbon dioxide emission in the world, but suffers the worst consequences brought by the effects of climate change.

Sub-Saharan Africa, for instance, just account for 3.6 per cent of the world emission of carbon dioxide although has 11 per cent of global population.

Dr Yanda said yesterday that Africa is the most vulnerable continent to effects of climate change as most of its communities depend on natural resources for livelihood, but also have low technology to address climate change effects.

Participants were of the shared view that the young generation will be affected more by the changes in the coming years.

"So the issues of climate change need to be taught in schools through integration of climate change in the education curricula, he said.

Dr Mo Ibrahim said there is an urgent need to change lifestyles to promote climate change, but insisted that this can not be feasible unless market forces are directed toward that direction.