Africa Climate Conversations.

Is there a solution to the persisting water crisis in Zimbabwe? I ask Professor Tamuka Nhiwatiwa, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences, University Lake Kariba Research Station, at the University of Zimbabwe. Tamuka says Harare city in Zimbabwe is built on its catchment area. It relies on treating polluted waters from Lake Chivero and the Manyame River for domestic use. Lake C...

When the Lozi people migrated to the Barotse Floodplains in western Zambia about 400 years ago, they heaped soil on platforms and settled in the floodplain without destroying it. The Lozi developed canals they use to access villages and farmlands and instilled African cultural and spiritual beliefs that have been used to protect the fish, water, animals, lagoons, and biodiversity within the floodp...

Did you know that the Barotse floodplain, located in the upper Zambezi basin in Zambia's western province, has over 339 bird species and over 129 documented fish species? When flooded, it can reach over 550 000 hectares, acting as a sponge that slowly releases water to the nearby regions that receive low rainfall. It's key for supplying water to downstream communities, and the Kariba dam relied up...

In order to manage and safeguard the nation's forests, Zambia has a proactive 2015 forest act that brings together stakeholders, including local communities. However, extensive deforestation is being caused by the prospecting for new minerals, the logging of indigenous trees like rosewood and African teak, and the conversion of forest area for agriculture.  The origins of significant riv...

It's nature that gives humans food, air, and medicine; hence, you must give back to nature. But, decades of development have not prioritised safeguarding the environment and the people who depend on it—as a result, leading to pollution, waste disposal, deforestation, ocean acidification, the rise of greenhouse emissions like carbon dioxide and methane, water stress, and rising sea levels. Despite...

At the foot of the Aberdare mountains in Kenya, about an hour's drive to Lake Naivasha, a youth group is encouraging farmers to preserve the grasslands to conserve the Sharpe's Longclaw bird species. The Njambini Wool Crafters buy wool from these farmers to ensure they generate income through sheep-keeping. The group produces yarns made of raw sheep wool. These yarns are sold to curio shop operato...

About an hour and a half drive from Kenya's capital city Nairobi exists the Kinangop Plateau. It is the middle catchment area between the Aberdares /Nyandarua range of mountains and Lake Naivasha. Initially, the grassland was a 70 000 hectares of expansive treeless tussocky grasses, bogs and marshlands. Today, only less than 10 percent of the grassland remains. The land converted into agricultural...

The Raya residents in Garissa - North east of Kenya - say they gave up 85 hectares (210 acres) of their land to make way for the solar power plant - the largest grid-connected solar power plant in East and Central Africa launched in December 2019, but have so far seen few benefits in return. So, who is benefitting? As Kenya aim to go 100 percent renewables what are the balances of power should the...

Today, I am visiting Kenya's Kereita forest - a critical water catchment area and home to the endangered Abbott's Starling bird and threatened tree species like the Prunus Africana threatened for its medical value. I am here to discover what a community forty kilometers from Kenya's capital has done to save a forest that was once plundered for firewood, grazing, wood, and arable land and protect t...

About 30 years ago in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, agenda 21 recognized that humanity stands at a defining moment in history, confronted by worsening poverty, hunger, ill health, and the continuing deterioration of the ecosystems on which we all depend for our well-being. Years later, world leaders continue to prioritize development over the environment. Today's episode explores the link between biodiv...

Happy New Year: 2023.  Last year the year 2022, the average global temperature was about 1.15 degrees Celsius. 2022 marks the 8th consecutive year from 2015-2022 where each year the annual global temperatures have reached at least 1°C above pre-industrial levels. This is according to datasets compiled by the World Meteorological organization from six international temperature datase...

Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has come with its fair share of blessings in terms of communication and transport. The Mombasa to the Kenyan capital Nairobi line was completed in 2017. Phase two of the railway aimed to link Nairobi with Malaba on the Kenya–Uganda border cut through the pristine Olooula Forest -one of the remaining Nairobi green spaces. The Oloolua Community Forest Association...

The Sharm el-Sheikh, decision was reached early morning on last Sunday the 20th as official plenary started at 4am. Among the wins for the Continent was the establishment of a loss and damage facility which was pushed hard by the G77 and China- Africa is in this group - as well as the civil society. But vehemently opposed by the United States at the beginning.  Does the Global Shiel...

The 27th UN Climate summit is already underway till next week in Egypt's coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh. It is essential to recognize that this is the 27th meeting of the parties in about 30 years. Also, remember that Africa is the continent that contributes the least to global emissions – about 4 percent.  In 2015, in Paris, when the Paris agreement was being passed, Africa was pr...

Forests and savannahs provide a wide variety of ecosystem services. They provide food and fuel. Additionally, they clean the air, filter water, and control floods, and erosion, while sustaining biodiversity. However, over the years human beings have plundered the earth prioritizing development needs over the environment. Kenya's Olo0lua forest an urban forest located about half an hour's drive fro...

Human activities led to roughly 1.1°C of warming between 1850-1900. If this trend continues, scientists warn that  global warming will exceed 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052,  meaning more severe and extreme weather events. The earth exists not just as an investment opportunity but as a trust passed on from previous generations for the current to hold as stewards for future generations....

In the Horn of Africa, pastoralists have often moved. The movement is a crucial driver for community resilience. However, the slow onset of events like droughts, desertification, water scarcity, rising sea levels, and coastal erosion has increased climate-induced migration. By 2050, the World Bank says climate change will cause more than 200 million people could migrate, with most movement occurri...

The 27th United nation Climate summit (COP27) is eight weeks away. COP27 occurs when several climate-related emergency crises, such as floods, drought, wildfires, storms, and cyclones, devastate communities, economies, and ecosystems. Today we welcome the COP27 President Special Representative Ambassador Wael Aboulmagd.

In many African communities, traditional weather forecasting was relied upon to determine when famers would plant. Still among many communities it remains the most accessible and affordable source of weather information. However recurrent and persistent drought, has disrupted the weather patterns in Kenya. Rains no longer set in on expected months making uncertain the traditional weather forecasti...

Africa is home to about 560 million people out of over 700 million without access to electricity worldwide. In July 2022, the African Union commission and its member states unveiled what they say is a practical approach to tackling the energy crisis in the continent.  The African Common Position on Energy Access and Just Transition stipulates that Africa will continue to deploy all forms of i...

Hydro energy comprises of 83percent of Zambia's installed capacity. In 2015, climate change impacts reduced Zambia energy generation capacity by more than 50 percent. In 2020 Zambia had to load shed for more than 12 hours again when inadequate rainfall again led to a loss of more than 800 MW. Coal came in hardy to stabilize Zambian economy.  Most African countries depend on hydro {highly susc...

Africa is a continent hard hit by climate change though least emitter. Erratic rains and floods, prolonged droughts, climate related migration and conflict, combined with Covid-19 are exposing nations to further debts. In addition, the continent being energy deficient, many nations lack energy base load. In line with the Paris agreement, is Africa being pressured&nbsp...

Drought situation continues to worsen in Kenya. In Kenya's Rift Valley, local says they last harvested since 2018. This year it has rained for four days. Cows have died, goats – their remaining source of food - are dying of diseases. The Worse hit are nineteen of the 23 Arid and Semi-Arid Land counties. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the number of people in need of...

Kenyan minority indigenous community - the Endorois live around Lake Bogoria in Baringo County in Kenya's Rift valley. In 1970's they lost their grazing ground when Lake Baringo was registered a national reserve. The remaining swamp - Kiborgoch or Loboi swamp stated shrinking in the 1990's due to land degradation and wildfires. The Women depend on the swamp to collect Papyrus reeds they use t...

Today in a special program swap with DW- Living Planet we here how climate change is impacting women in girls, in Kenya. As temperature continue to rise, how is it impacting people's mental health in South Africa? How about the peatlands in the Democratic republic of Congo?