Accra, Nov.26, GNA-The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Ghana has organised the second edition of Climate Science Speaker Series as part of efforts in advocating gender equality and inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for women.
The public lecture focused on the need for increasing women’s participation in climate science.
It also inspired members of the AIMS community and Africa, especially women to address Africa’s development challenges resulting from effects of climate change.
It formed part of measures to mitigate the impact of climate change in Africa.
Professor Zachariah Debo Adeyewa, Director of the Doctoral Research Programme in West Africa Climate System (DRP-WACS) of the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), said Africa must raise climate change advocates to educate and sensitise the populace on the effects of climate change.
That, he said, would inspire holistic approach from every member of society to adopt responsible behaviour towards reducing carbon emissions.
Prof. Adeyewa observed that Africa’s contribution to global carbon emission was minimal, contributing about four percent, however, the continent bore the brunt of the negative effects of climate change.
He mentioned rising temperature of the atmosphere, resulting in erratic rainfall pattern, drought, food insecurity, floods, diseases and poverty were some of the negative effects of climate change in Africa.
Therefore, he said, it behooved on Africans to raise climate change champions who would devote their time and energies educating the people on the use of renewable energy sources, undertaking afforestation campaigns and use of solar panels to reduce carbon emissions.
Prof. Adeyewa explained the role WASCAL was playing in building the capacity of young African graduates to advocate for climate responsible behaviour.
WASCAL is a research-focused centre operating in about 10 West African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger providing science-based advice to policy-makers on impact, mitigation and adaptation measures of climate change.
Prof. Adeyewa asked students to take advantage of the various educational programmes offered at WASCAL to build their capacity on climate change mitigation measures and help change people’s attitudes.
Dr Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, the Deputy Director in charge of Climate Vulnerability and Adaptation at the Climate Change Department, Environmental Protection Agency, on his part, said African countries must make deliberate efforts to empower women on climate change since they were most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
He advocated the need for African countries to use sustainable methods in tapping their natural resources in order to minimise the negative impact on the environment.
Dr Amoah said, for instance, Ghana needed between $9.3 to $15 billion financial support to implement climate change policies and interventions and create about one million green jobs in the next 10 years.
GNA