Climate Adaptations In Tough Economic Climate

The news from the economy gets worse each day. Before the current economic crises, the environment was not high or regarded as a high priority sector in Africa. What will happen in this current economic climate? How will the climate change adaptation measures be affected?

African governments will do well not to loose interest in environmental issues, especially climate change adaptation. Investing in the environment will actually help the economies grow, reduce unemployment and improve the general well being of the citizen, and in the process prepares the economies to buffer against the global warming.
The incoming American administration has promised to create half a million new ' green jobs' as part of efforts to stimulate the economy. The UK government has a similar scheme also.

All these point to the fact that despite the economic downturn, investing in the environment still makes economic sense.
In the case of Africa, investments in agriculture, including combating land degradation and desertification, sustainable fisheries (including cleaning the aquatic environment), use of sustainable and efficient low cost energies (biogas, charcoal briquettes and solar systems) and complete recycling of wastes, will not only help in creating jobs but will also boost the economy. This will touch other aspects of the livelihood as well. For instance, use of alternatives to firewood will reduce the cutting of trees, which causes land degradation and poor agricultural output and also reduce the ill health effect of using firewood and inefficient stoves.

In the process, the economy is not only stimulated, but adaptation measures to climate change are introduced which will help buffering the economy in the long run.