Bob Dewar

The really hot issue for Africa

The poster launched in London by David and Ed Miliband showing what might happen to our blue planet if we don't keep climate change to 2 degrees C or less is dramatic. It is a really important message for Africa. Ordinary citizens have so many problems- just getting enough food to eat and getting kids into some sort of school with a decent teacher is a tough job. How then can they look up and understand the bigger picture- which is that climate change will change their children's lives dramatically for ever unless everyone, every government, every one with influence, takes action to get a balanced, brave, successful deal at Copenhagen? 
 
I was looking at expert analysis the other day of what 4 degrees increase might mean for the great rain forests of Africa which come only after South American ones in importance for world weather systems. Simply put, it would cause an ecological catastrophe with massive loss of forest cover, bringing more extreme weather and turning  carbon sinks into a significant carbon source. People in marginal lands of Africa are already learning about desertification. Will people living in the remaining great forests of Africa today only know savannah tomorrow, if they are lucky?

Posted at 15:37 27 October 2009 by Bob Dewar  |  Comments[1]