Women walking for long distances in search of water: The non-availability of resources is one effect of climate change (Pic. courtesy of timthumb.php)oking for
Climate change is here with us whether you believe it or not.
This is the realization that hits one if you visit the National Climate Change Expo that began yesterday at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
Last month, my mum called me from the village and told me that the rains have come and every one is busy planting. Previously, the rains used to come earlier in the year and the planting season too.
Just to let you know, my village is called Nyamonye. It derives its name from the mud fish, which in my mother tongue is called ‘Monye’. Now, I am told that many years back, when the rains came, there used to be floods in the area and the mud fish would be found everywhere along the banks of the rivers flowing into Lake Victoria. But this is no more. It is now very hard to find the fish and many other species, and when they come, the prices are way out of reach of the ordinary person.
What do these two illustrations have to do with climate change, one may ask.
Well, a lot.
The rain patterns in my village and in many other places are now unpredictable. Thus, the planting season too can no longer be predicted with certainty. This has many ramifications for food production.
Many small scale farmers are still stuck in the old patterns of planting. Thus, they plow their land and plant their seeds at the time they used to, not withstanding the fact that the rains are not coming as they used to come. This explains why we have constant crop failures in some parts of the country.
As for the mud fish not being available in my village now, this is a result of change in the weather patterns. These two are the results of the much talked about climate change, which many of us sometimes think is just a subject for discussion in Copenhagen in Denmark or Bali in Indonesia.
The exhibition at the KICC, which brings together governmental and non-governmental players in the area of climate change and conservation of the environment, is organized by the ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and the United Nations Development Programme and Official Development Assistance of Japan.
Climate change affects each and every one of us in one way or the other. This is clearly seen in man’s interaction with his environment at various levels. According to the Kenya Wildlife Service, one of the exhibitors at the expo, climate change will increase the already existing stresses that Kenyans are experiencing, particularly those related to water scarcity.
In the drier parts of the country, conflicts for water, pastures, settlements and human-wildlife conflicts are now a common feature in our country. Famine and drought has also reduced the food security that we have as a nation. These conflicts are prevalent in the arid and semi-arid parts of Kenya.
When the late Professor Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her efforts in planting trees in the country, many could not see the relationship between planting of trees and achievement of peace.
But there is a lot. Many of the conflicts that are witnessed today in different parts of the country are a result of the struggle for the little resources available, especially water. Because man has interfered with the environment by cutting trees, there is less rainfall and more conflict as people and animals compete for the scarce water resources.
Another area where we see effects of climate change is in increased instances of bush fires, which leads to change in wildlife distribution, reduced tourism and revenue in the affected areas. This means that Counties like Narok and Kajiado which depend on tourism will suffer irreparably if the occurrences of such fires are not curbed.
Effects of climate change are also seen in increase in disease incidences and change in aquatic ecology, seen in coral bleaching, reduced fish stocks, reduction in water tourism and the revenue collected from such economic activities. The counties along the Kenyan coast like Kilifi, Malindi, Lamu and Mombasa are the ones likely to be affected because of these changes in aquatic ecology.
The late Prof. Wangari Maathai: Nobel Laureate and champion of conservation of the environment (wmaathai.ipg)
What can be done?
But thankfully, you and I, with the support of various players, can play a part in addressing the consequences of climate change. Mitigation will help to slow the rate of change while adaptation will reduce vulnerabilities and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.
By pooling our human, financial, social, physical, natural and political together, we can maintain, restore and protect the environment.
Various exhibitors at the expo are showing members of the public how they can help in this worthy cause, without which it would not be possible to achieve vision 2030 and Millennium Development Goal 7 – ensuring environmental sustainability.
Some of the measures individuals could embark on are promoting use of renewable energy, developing integrated management plans based on ecosystem approach with due consideration for livelihoods of the surrounding communities.
Another measure that could be taken is the developing of sustainable agricultural practices that are compatible with wildlife conservation, especially for communities surrounding protected areas. More research too needs to be done and monitoring of climate change impacts on plants and animals.
One of the most important things that need to be done is to create and promote climate change awareness. This is one area where a lot still needs be done, for people to realize that they need to take it upon themselves to conserve the environment and thus reduce the effects of climate change.
The exhibition will be coming to an end on 15th October 2011 and by that time, hopefully many Kenyans will have learnt about climate change and will be able to take a step to redeem the damages that climate change is causing on our lives.
Interesting innovations
Meanwhile, there are those who are already taking steps locally to help deal with the effects of climate change. One of the measures that some of the players are taking is the recycling of used products to be utilised again in the manufacturing process.
Computers for Schools Kenya (CFSK) is working with Safaricom to collect used credit cards and SIM cards for recycling. With this partnership, soon there will be collection bins at various points in the city where users of Safaricom products will be able to dispose off of some of their used cards and electronic items like old phones.
These will be dismantled and then sold to paper manufacturers and other manufacturers. Another measure that the CFSK is taking is collecting used electronics appliances like old computers and their parts and recycling plastics from these appliances. These can be sold to manufacturers in the plastic industry to be used for making items like plastic poles.
One other interesting development at CFSK is that computers which are no longer in use are being recycled and being made into television screens which are then sold to consumers at a much cheaper cost. These can be used for three to four more years.
One other innovation at the exhibition that could be of interest to many in the rural areas is a torch that is charged using a small solar panel. While the torch is being charged using the solar panel, it can at the same time charge a mobile phone. This will be useful to rural dwellers since they will be able to use their torches and charge their phones at no extra cost.
There are many innovations that are taking place in the country. The only problem is that many Kenyans don’t seem to be aware of these innovations to be able to benefit from them. The locally available technological options can be of benefit to many Kenyans; they will be conserving the environment, mitigating against the effects of climate change, while making big savings in their finances.
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