FOCUS : Reduction of carbon emissions to 350 ppm, pertinent for a healthy climate

At the end of last week, motorcyclists under their umbrella association ASSETAMORWA and members of Rwanda’s environmental watchdog REMA participated in the international day on climate change. This is a day set a side to secure the atmosphere by reducing the carbon gas to 350 parts per million. This climate action campaign day which was undertaken by millions of people around the world, is the first of its kind to be pioneered by members of the civil society in an effort to normalize the climate, from years of human intoxication. What is heart breaking about this dire climatic state, is the fact the African countries which are among the biggest sufferers of the climatic change consequences, did not cause it. Combating the consequences of climate change is potentially costly for the struggling African countries, With many still languishing in absolute poverty. It is at this point, that many environmental activists and world leaders have come out to advocate for a special fund to be allocated to poor countries, to try to neutralize the consequences of climate change. Adding that the money the developing countries would receive for this would not be aid, but rather a recognition that the rich nations must pay for something that in the past they simply appropriated. Although developed countries are principally responsible for the global impacts on climate change like global warming, developing countries are doing their best to develop sustainable mechanisms of neutralizing the impacts. In an interview with John Gakumba, the National Project Coordinator of the Nile Basin Discourse Forum in Rwanda on Climate Change and Development (CC-DARE), he pointed out that global efforts aimed at combating climate change, should be invested in the usage of renewable energy and friendly agricultural practices. He observed that the developed countries are in a position that cannot significantly reverse their modes of production, and mass industrialization which in the first place led to these climatic catastrophes. So Africa is the ‘life saver’ of the climate because, it still has room for adaptability. However many Africa countries are not united in this cause. As part of this struggle, Rwanda has engaged climatic adaptability practices like re-afforestation, where by trees are being planted in many parts, resettling of people in estates among others. Gakumba also observed that in some parts of the country, new clean technologies which are well researched, are being introduced and used in this regard. Among these renewable energy sources are; solar, wind energy, biomass and the locally made stoves called Londereza He further urged the public to adopt these mechanisms if the consequences of climatic change are to be reversed; “Every homestead should at least have ten trees around it, if these trees are the multipurpose types with other benefits like fruits, it would be an added advantage,” he said. The importance of the climate change adaptation campaign is to raise awareness and call upon all stakeholders, especially the developed countries, to support in the funding of mitigation practices. The December United Nations Climate Change convention in Copenhagen will bring together world leaders to draw up a new treaty, and it is during this convention that a fair share for the African countries will be discussed in compensation for the climatic challenges they are facing at the expense of the developed countries. gahimore@yahoo.com