A 2 掳C rise in global temperature could have a profound impact on Africa. GDP could reportedly dip 4.7 per cent, mainly through agricultural losses.
The continent would face other environmental degradations. there than the global average and are already having an impact on things such as water availability and power generation. A lack of rain recently saw all hydropower plants in Tanzania switched off.
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Yet rich nations 鈥� removed from such impacts 鈥� largely set the climate-change agenda. The developing world is crying foul, feeling left out of the debate. International journals dominate on climate papers. Although research collaborations between Africa and richer regions do exist, few African climate scientists are published in big peer-reviewed journals and other important publications.
This is partly down to the region prioritising practical, everyday problems above journal publication. For example, the Energy Research Centre at the University of Cape Town is South Africa鈥檚 leading institution for research on climate change, but it focuses on joint projects between the state, academics, industry and NGOs. As a result, policy briefs dominate, not journal articles. Financial and resource constraints also hamper publication.
The result is a deficit of African knowledge in the big journals, which could further hamper the development of climate policies.
鈥淎 deficit of African knowledge in Western journals could hamper climate policies鈥�
Discontent is real. During a recent meeting in Arusha, Tanzania, African climate negotiators on reducing global warming if it鈥檚 not kept to 2 掳C or less. They also want funding to meet the estimated $10-20 billion a year needed to adapt to climate change, as well as green-tech support and better recognition of indigenous environmental know-how.
Better funding for research in Africa, better-stocked scientific libraries, faster computing and action on high fees charged by some journals would help.
We need to expand knowledge about climate change to include all the world鈥檚 best minds 鈥� not just those in traditionally favoured locations.
Image credit: Abbie Trayler-Smith/Panos
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淔eeling sidelined鈥�
