The African Union (AU) Commission has emphasised the urgent need for increased funding for weather and climate information services across Africa. 

The continent’s vital development sectors face several challenges with extensive climate change impacts, including diminished food production, water scarcity, and significant biodiversity loss.

The call was made at the combined event of the Space for Early Warning in Africa (SEWA) and Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) programs in Windhoek, Namibia’s capital.

Moses Vilakati, the AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, spoke at the event and asked AU member states to promote creative solutions to bolster Africa’s climate change resilience.

“A majority of Africans are employed in climate-sensitive sectors, with 55-62 per cent of the workforce in sub-Saharan Africa employed in the agriculture sector and 95 per cent of cropland relying on rain-fed farming,” said Vilakati, noting that the sectors are facing complex vulnerability due to climate change.

The 2019 State of Climate Services for Agriculture and Food Security Report, published by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), indicates that climate information and associated services improve agricultural and food security outcomes and benefits.

“The rapid growth of informal settlements, without adequate services, equally amplifies the vulnerability of large populations in urban areas to weather and climate-related hazards,” the commissioner said.

Vilakati highlighted that investing in climate services offers a compelling cost-benefit ratio of one to ten, with potential returns significantly surpassing the initial outlay. 

He strongly encouraged the African Meteorological Community to showcase such investments’ advantages proactively.

The primary objective of this joint forum is to enhance comprehension of the positive effects of climate services and early warning systems across sectoral, community, national, regional, and continental scales. 

Additionally, it seeks to bolster South-South cooperation and facilitate knowledge exchange among the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Regions.

Source: APA News