In Africa's Corner ... Yes or NO??

Africa has been identified as the most vulnerable continent on the Earth with respect to climate change. It does not have the capacity to adapt to most of the present hazards, has a growing population and very little infrastructure. The government structures are weak and very political and the outside influences dominate development. At the same time, Africa has put little of the greenhouse gas into the atmosphere through transport or industry. It has contributed via land-use change but much of this is also driven by outside influences (deforestation for hardwoods and the like).

It really seems like an impossible task, unless we bring out humanity to it. The humanity has nothing to do with self interest or even career development. It is just the right thing to do.

We are causing a significant part of the problem because of our emissions in the developed world. That on top of centuries of slavery, colonialism and now globalization. What about a few decades of humanity??

The meeting that I am attending in Italy is called CORDEX (Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment). The idea is to reduce our uncertainties about climate change on a regional basis while increasing our understanding. There are more than 160 participants with the majority of the participants coming from developed countries (Europe and US). Africa is supposed to be first area of focus. However, I sense that somehow we are missing something important in all of our discussions about analysis, ensemble modeling, dynamic and statistical downscaling, blah blah blah.... That is humanity.

For me what matters, is the warm smiles from Africa, the struggling students, the hardworking farmers, but most of all it is the children and the chiefs of the villages. The children because they are the future and the best hope of tomorrow. The chiefs because they have seen so much and have to protect everyone in the village.

The Chief from Senegal at left with the young girl was 94 years old when the picture was taken. Several years ago he told me about the wet 1960s and then how it became so dry in the 1970s and 1980s. When I shake his hands and look into his eyes I feel humanity calling on me to be a better scientists and a better human being. To watch out for the young one and to help make a better way.

The other chief on the right is also one who I have made a point to visit him whenever we deploy our rain gauges before the wet season begins. He has been very ill, and I hope that he is still alive although he was still weak when I saw him in 2010. I know he is worried about the future. He is worried about Humanity...

So what are we going to do? We have to help with building institutions in Africa to give the young people a chance ... to help with problems that maybe they didn't create but they must help solve.

Everyone can be part of the solution. Even if you turn off your lights, drive less or consume less you are helping. But what they need are scientists who are educated and have the tools to deal with the current and ensuing environmental problems that are lurking all around their societies.