Home : General : Gambia News : Gambia among countries most prone to climate change
Gambia News : Gambia among countries most prone to climate change
Climate change activities coordinator for Concern Universal, Mackenzie Dove, said here on Wednesday that 'The Gambia has already been labelled as one of the countries to be most affected by climate change in the near future.'
Mackenzie made the remark during the lunching of a book titled "Climate Frontline", organised by Concern Universal here.
According to her, the impacts of climate change are being recognised globally and felt in big cities and small towns as well as sprawling deserts and forests throughout the world.
This human-induced backlash from environment is something which is no longer being ignored at the international or national level, she noted.
While developing countries have contributed least to the current global situation, they have been left feeling the greatest impacts, She lamented, adding that climate change is already impacting the lives of millions of Africans and is bound to have even greater economic, social and political impacts if action is not taken.
Mackenzie said "despite the negative scenarios for bleak futures painted by the media and scientists alike where arctic glaciers have melted, sandy deserts continue to expand and cities like Banjul are underwater; within 75 years there is still hope to turn this path around."
It is recognised that climate change offers many opportunities upon the global stage as well as within local communities for new technologies and niche markets to further diversify economics, increase livelihoods and fight environment degradation.
She disclosed that the Gambian government was actively pursuing projects aimed at strengthening key sectors hit by climate change and also to strengthen and promote investment into these areas for the country's future growth.
Its highly anticipated involvement at COP15 Climate Change Negotiations in Copenhagen in December demonstrates not only its expertise but commitment to international negotiations not only on behalf of the Gambia but also as a key member with in the African delegation.
Speaking on Climate Change at the Community Level, Banky Njie-Partners, Finance Manager, Concern Universal, said the group had jointly produced a collection of first-hand testimonies across Africa, describing how climate change was affecting their lives and the positive steps being taken to adapt.
According to Njie-Partners, climate change is already a reality in these vulnerable rural communities and they are doing their best to adapt to their changed en v ironment by building on local knowledge and diversifying their livelihoods.
However, he charged that policy and decision makers in the urban areas needed to have a clear understanding of "these issues affecting our rural communities to be able to work hand-in-glove for the alternative ways to a sustainable living.
He also charged that better planning need to be done to reduce risk from disasters, develop agricultural practices that can withstand changing climates in order to help mitigate the impact if used more widely.
1843 times read
- We have too many people in the world. Too much pollution is being caused, especially by the West. And far too much wealth is held by far too few. It is these wealthy people who have made their money at the expense of the environment who should pay.
(Posted on December 20, 2009, 9:15 AM david riddington)
|
|
|
Rate this Gambia Article
 (total 71 votes)
|
Gambia News
Gambia Archive
Newsletter
Poll: 2011- Gambia General Election
Comment on This Gambia News (1 posted)
Syndication
