Africa must earn its climate change adaptation finance

Developing countries will need 60 billion dollars a year by 2030 to finance their climate change adaptation, according to to the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as reported by IPS. The World Bank gives a broader range at 20 to 100 billion dollars.

Thus, funding is a highly important matter for developing countries, and particularly for those in Africa, which, according to UNFCCC, is “highly vulnerable to the various manifestations of climate change.” Food insecurity due to climate related problems and limited agricultural production; vector- and water-borne illnesses; sea-level rise and increased desertification are some of the climate change related issues that the continent will have to fight with.

“Africa needs to focus on developing strong arguments for COP 18 and beyond based on clear evidence,” told climate change and finance expert, and chief executive of OneWorld, Belynda Petrie, told IPS. The 18th Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC(COP 18) will be held in Doha, Qatar.