As the world strongly steps forward to fight effects of climate change on humanity and wildlife migration in Sub-Saharan Africa, many questions arise, one of which is, has the world reached a point of no return in the effort to contain the ever rising global temperatures?
However, as all factors remain almost constant, Sub-Saharan Africa terrain on climate change mitigation remains bumpy even as world leaders, experts, Scientists and civil society put their heads together to find a solution to the global crisis.
During a recently concluded two-day virtual meeting convened by Global Perspective Initiative (GPI) dubbed “Climate change and Migration: Point of No Return?”, it was revealed that effects of climate change contribute immensely on human and wildlife migration in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to World Bank statistics, the region could account for more than 85 million people migrating by 2050 if no action is taken to cushion the current climate change trends in Africa.
Participants at a climate change meeting convened by Kenya Climate Change Working Group (www.kccwg.org) have called for integrated approaches at all levels of governance internationally, nationally, and locally as a measure to mitigate climate change effects, that is giving the world’s sleepless nights.
According to the speakers, there is hope on the horizon, now that the US, the world’s leading economy wants to re-enter the Paris Agreement of 2015 which offers a ray of hope in the fight for emission reduction as well as against the effects of climate.
Wycliffe Amakobe, energy, and climate change expert at the Kenya Climate Change Working Group said for the Paris agreement to realise its objectives, member states ought to give the commitment to strengthen the global response to climate change.
For many years Elda Mariam, a maize farmer from Nambale sub-county, Busia County has been harvesting a maximum of Seven bags in her one-acre parcel. This could however change with the introduction of Bt Maize variety in that locality.
“Maize farming has been a big loss to me. I incur a lot of expenses including the use of chemical sprays and fertilizer, but the yield has not been good,” says disheartened Mariam.
Mariam, however, confides that with the information she has received during Bt Maize’s sensitization meeting at Alupe in Busia, she hopes for better yields.
She told Africa Science News that with the introduction of Bt Maize technology, farmers in Busia county and western Kenya have a reason to smile for the beckoning fortunes after scientists/researchers availed the new variety in the region.