A web-based solution to climate change
Extreme weather and unpredictable climate patterns have dire consequences for Africans who rely on land, lakes and seas for food and income. In facing these challenges, it is vital that communities have access to the latest scientific knowledge and technologies in the field of climate change mitigation. In line with this need, the EU-funded AFRICAN CLIMATE (Uptake of climate related research results through knowledge platforms with African collaboration partners) project was established. It has launched a dynamic web portal that brings together an active network of African and European researchers as well as communication experts. The portal covers five main topics: research, policy, financing, good practice and country-specific information. It is also multilingual and interactive, and is regularly updated with news, events, links and practical tools. Videos and images featuring the faces behind good practice in climate change adaptation and mitigation in Africa have been uploaded as well. This multimedia approach also includes fact sheets detailing the current and projected impacts of climate change on each of the continent's 54 countries. Another major component of the portal is a number of case studies demonstrating good practice in climate mitigation. Researchers stringently assessed these against pre-established criteria before adding them to the portal. The AFRICAN CLIMATE portal is intended to serve as a knowledge hub and point of contact for researchers, project developers and policymakers. It should facilitate an increased uptake of research results, broader cooperation and awareness, and scaling up of already successful initiatives.
Keywords
Climate change, Africa, knowledge platforms, climate mitigation
