Kariuki Thomas, Omumbo Judith, Ciugu Kabura, Marincola Elizabeth
Science for Africa Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya.
Open Res Afr. 2023 Jan 3;6:1. doi: 10.12688/openresafrica.13566.1. eCollection 2023.
The evidence is clear that climate change is the greatest challenge facing mankind today. Africa is disproportionately burdened by multiple direct and cascading impacts of the climate crisis. Global investments for climate change adaptation, however, have not prioritized Africa adequately and there is a significant knowledge gap in understanding the context and science of climate change and sustainable solutions for the continent's adaptation. Solutions for adaptation and resilience are made complex by an urgent need for accelerated economic growth, rapid population expansion and urbanization, habitat and biodiversity loss and dwindling financing. There are also challenges in matching policies, wavering commitments and actions with good science that focuses on sustainable lives, livelihoods and ecosystem preservation. The solutions must come from where the impacts are felt. The Science for Africa Foundation supports African researchers and institutions to lead in the science that addresses African priority development areas and has set climate change as a strategic priority. This call to action, by the SFA Foundation, outlines key areas that its strategy addresses through programs that support African scientific excellence, leadership and the best of Africa's research to understand the science of climate change and its impacts; collate and assess evidence for policy; grow high level technical capacity on the continent; and create innovative priority actions for Africa.
有明确证据表明,气候变化是当今人类面临的最大挑战。非洲因气候危机的多重直接和连锁影响而负担过重。然而,全球用于气候变化适应的投资并未充分重视非洲,在理解气候变化的背景和科学以及该大陆适应的可持续解决方案方面存在重大知识差距。加速经济增长、人口快速增长和城市化、栖息地和生物多样性丧失以及资金减少的迫切需求,使得适应和恢复力的解决方案变得复杂。在将政策、摇摆不定的承诺和行动与关注可持续生活、生计和生态系统保护的良好科学相匹配方面也存在挑战。解决方案必须来自受影响的地方。非洲科学基金会支持非洲研究人员和机构在解决非洲优先发展领域的科学方面发挥主导作用,并将气候变化设定为战略优先事项。非洲科学基金会的这一行动呼吁概述了其战略通过各项计划所涉及的关键领域,这些计划支持非洲的科研卓越、领导力以及非洲最好的研究,以了解气候变化的科学及其影响;整理和评估政策证据;提升该大陆的高级技术能力;并为非洲创造创新的优先行动。