06 Nov
2006 - Gland, Switzerland/Nairobi, Kenya – As
governments gather in Nairobi for the second Meeting
of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, WWF warns
that climate change has the potential to undermine,
and even undo, improvements in the living standards
of ordinary Africans.
WWF’s report, Climate Change
in East Africa – Status of Science, illustrates
that Africa warmed by 0.7°C over the last
century. With temperatures now expected to rise
between 0.2°C and 0.5°C per decade over
the next century, these hotter temperatures will
have a particularly detrimental impact on rural
communities throughout East Africa, warns the
global conservation organization.
“Climate change is starting
to hit home, and we can clearly see the first
impacts here in eastern Africa,” says Taye Teferi,
Conservation Director of WWF's Eastern Africa
Regional Programme Office.
“Since the poorest countries
are on the receiving end of the pollution of developed
countries, it’s only fair that polluters support
us to build up our defences against climate change.”
One of the most devastating
impacts of climate change in East Africa will
be changes in the frequency, intensity and predictability
of rainfall. Changes in regional precipitation
will ultimately affect water availability and
could lead to decreased agricultural production,
potential food shortages and even conflict.
Warmer temperatures may also
increase the occurrence and intensity of future
disease outbreaks. High temperatures and intense
rainfall are critical factors in initiating malaria
epidemics especially in East Africa.
Hand-in-hand with these impacts,
warming temperatures are projected to cause more
frequent and more intense extreme weather events.
Also, sea-level rise along coastal areas where
people live is likely to disrupt economic activities
there, such as agriculture, tourism, industry
and fisheries.
“Beyond a 2°C hike in temperatures,
climate change will spin out of control,” says
Hans Verolme, Director of WWF’s Global Climate
Change Programme. “The world can still prevent
dangerous climate change but the window of opportunity
is rapidly closing.”
“It is not a lack of solutions
that is holding us back," Verolme adds.
"Ministers meeting in Nairobi
need to chart a course for deeper emission cuts.
We must work together to develop a safer, cleaner
and more energy efficient world.”
For further information:
Kimunya Mugo, Communications Manager, WWF-EARPO
Martin Hiller, Communications Manager, WWF Climate
Change
Brian Thomson, Press Officer, WWF International
