17 March 2010: The UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the International Council for Science-Regional Office for Africa (ICSU-ROA) organized a consultative workshop on “Climate Change and Scientific Consequences in Africa: Post-Copenhagen” from 17-19 March 2010, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The aim of the workshop was to examine the role of African scientists in addressing the climate change challenge.

The event brought together over 60 scientists from several African countries, as well as representatives and experts from the African Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology (AMCOST), the African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD), the European Climate Foundation, the Global Footprint Network, and the Mckinsey Company. These scientists examined how scientific knowledge can serve as a basis for institutional action in support of adaptation and mitigation efforts of African countries. The specific objectives of the workshop included assessing the current status of climate change research in Africa, and channeling scientific research to improve policy making, particularly in areas of high technical expertise.
Participants also addressed issues relating to: the capacity of African Governments and their institutions to handle the disaster risk management cycle; technologies available to the region for adaptation and mitigation, as well as the costs associated with deployment of such technologies; collaboration between African climate scientists and policy makers for informed policy making; climate changes and their impacts on Africa’s sustainable growth and development; Africa’s collaboration with the international community dealing with climate change initiatives; the Copenhagen Accord; the climate change roadmap for Africa; and the launch of the network of African Scientists on Climate Change. [UNECA Press Release]