The largest international scientific conference on climate change will kick off today in Paris, France, and it is expected to shape the roadmap for the much-awaited global climate talks also scheduled for Paris in December. 

More than 2,500 scientists from across the world are congregating in the French capital to discuss solutions for both mitigation and adaptation issues on climate change. They will present updated scientific data as well as reinforcing dialogue between science and civil society stakeholders.

The summit, hosted at the UNESCO headquarters, will prepare the pathway for negotiations that will build a new binding legal global agreement to enter into effect in 2020, said Jean-Pierre Poncet, Second Counsellor for France’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO.

"It is important that the scientists prepare ground for negotiators and diplomats to take decisions  that lead to legal binding agenda,” he said.

Poncet was addressing African journalists and bloggers from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Madagascar at the UNESCO offices.

Building on the results of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 5th Assessment Report (AR5), the conference will address key issues concerning climate change and use the opportunity to discuss solutions. Mitigation mechanisms, the reduction of green house gases and adaptation solutions are the cardinal concepts that will form the criteria for discussions.

The report stresses new and bolder solutions for climate change. Critical issues such as the contentious climate financing are expected to also feature prominently at the conference.

Rwandan scientists and researchers will also make presentations on agricultural vulnerability and climate change.

"Understanding the Vulnerability to Climate Change Effects in East Africa” is a scientific research paper that will be presented by Gaspard Rwanyiziri, a researcher from the University of Rwanda.

He is an expert in geography and environmental management. "The Case Study of Rice Farmers in Bugesera District, Rwanda” will form the core of Rwanyiziri’s presentation.

Rwanda has been faced with unusual irregularities in climate patterns, including extreme temperatures, variability in rainfall frequencies and intensity over the last 30 years.

In fact, the analysis to be presented at the summit indicates that rainfall patterns in the country show that it (rainfall) has been declining since 1992, resulting into serious floods in 1997-1998 and a prolonged drought in 1999-2000.

According to the results, the rise in temperature and changes in the amount of rainfall and its distribution have altered the availability of water resources, consequently affecting rice production.

Other topics to be covered by the conference include ocean acidification, water scarcity and rise in sea-level, pollution, forests and desertification.

The world is in battle to reduce greenhouse gas emissions agreeing that future global warming should be limited to below 2.0 °C.

The COP21 aims at achieving a legally binding and universal agreement on climate from all the nations of the world.