Elaboration of a strategy to integrate training on adaptation to climate change within the educational system of cameroon

1.1.3. Mitigation of climate change

This failure is as a result of the non respect of the conventions by the highly industrialized nations who often than not, are responsible for production of the highest amounts of the greenhouse gases. As observed by Lagos (2008), due to the limited calendar and low participation, as well as the insufficient follow-up in its implementation, the Kyoto Protocol has never been considered as a solution to climate change. Some countries failed to ratify or accede to this Protocol while those that ratified it have not abided by its objectives. Although the developing countries are the least producers of GHGs, they are, and will, remain the most vulnerable to this climate change phenomenon even if provided with finances accrued from the universal carbon taxes (or climate fund) proposed (or established) by Sir Nicolas Stern in 2006 (Ricardo, 2008).

1.1.4. Adaptation to climate change

Adaptation to climate change is a short term response, and in a sustainable manner to climatic variation. It is a process through which societies make themselves better able to cope with an uncertain future and entails taking the right measures to reduce its negative effects (or exploit the positive ones) by making the appropriate adjustments and changes. Options and opportunities to adapt range from technological options such as increased sea level defences or flood-proof houses in flood plains, to behaviour change at the individual level, such as reducing water use in times of drought, and using insecticide-sprayed mosquito nets. Other strategies include early warning systems for extreme events, better water management, improved risk management, various insurance options and biodiversity conservation.

Adaptation strategies are based on developed methods which are designed to provide projections of future climatic variations and change with credible estimates (UNFCCC, 2007). Such projections focus on aspects of climate which are relevant to both adaptation and mitigation strategies. They involve reducing exposure and sensitivity and increasing adaptive capacity. Climate variability can cause abrupt disruptions to the society such as floods, droughts, or tropical storms. These disruptions can take a major toll on a country’s economy if a significant part of economic activity is sensitive to the weather and climate. Anticipating climatic variability and change while designing resilience into development assistance can therefore lead to more robust projects that serve their target populations better especially as some projects may not be designed to cope adequately with current climate variability, let alone with climate change (USAID, 2007). Strategies and programmes that are more likely to succeed need to link with coordinated efforts aimed at poverty alleviation, enhancing food security and water availability, combating land degradation and reducing loss of biological diversity and ecosystem services, as well as improving the adaptive capacity of communities.
Adaptation to climate change in developing countries is therefore vital and has been highlighted as having a high or urgent priority. Although uncertainty remains about the extent of its impacts, there is sufficient information and knowledge available on strategies and plans to implement adaptation activities now, but limitations in human capacity and financial resources are making adaptation difficult. In order to assess the impacts of and vulnerability to climate change and subsequently work out adaptation needs, one requires good quality climate data, such as temperature, rainfall and the frequency of extreme events. Non-climatic baseline data such as the current situation of water resources, agriculture and food security, human health, terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity, and coastal zones, are also useful. It is therefore urgent that the vulnerability of developing countries to climate change be reduced, their capacity to adapt increased, and national adaptation plans implemented.
It is recognized that research and training to enable adaptation is needed in developing countries in order to help understand climate change impacts and vulnerabilities and facilitate better policy decisions and management. Thus the need to design training programmes at all levels of the educational system up to the postgraduate level in order to provide for research on the subject. Capacity-building at local, national and regional levels is vital to enable developing countries to adapt to climate change. It is important for stakeholders and funders to recognize not only the role of universities, and tertiary institutions of excellence, but to ensure that the younger generation from primary and secondary schools are equally sufficiently educated about adaptation to this phenomenon so as to have increased adaptive capacity.

1.2. General Background and Statement of Problem

1.2.1. Background

Climate change has recently become a serious threat to human survival on a global scale. It is accordingly an important issue of debate due to its impacts on economic, developmental and socio-cultural issues. Controversies about its natural and/or anthropogenic causes, magnitude and future projections abound. However, the truth is that the rate of global warming and its impacts on climatic variables across the entire globe during the past two to three decades is unprecedented. This analogy is not unconnected to the frequent rise in sea level, droughts, heat waves, depletion of water resources, sporadic precipitation with accompanying floods, landslides and hurricanes, among others in recent years. The frequency, intensity, duration and magnitude of recent climate triggered disasters had actually been predicted by scientists based on observed past increases in levels of CO₂ in the atmosphere. The Copenhagen Conference of February 2009 clearly demonstrated that sea level will rise between 90 cm to 130 cm by the end of this century if the present trends of remote and immediate causes of climate change are maintained. Simulated consequences on low lying coastal areas indicate catastrophic consequences and enormous economic costs around the World. These catastrophic events have increased from an average of two per year in the 1950s, and five per year in the 1970s, to nine per year in 1990s, with windstorms and floods accounting for about two-thirds of these catastrophes (McBean, 2004).

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