ISS International Conference: Climate Change and Natural Resources Conflict in Africa

Date: 2009-05-14 to Invalid date

ISS International Conference: Climate Change and Natural Resources Conflict in Africa
Entebbe, Uganda, 14 May 2009

 

Closed event - by invitation only

 

Climate change phenomenon is a global concern, which typically threatens the sustainability of the livelihoods of the majority of the population living in the developing countries. Africa, particularly, the Sub-Saharan region is among the most vulnerable regions of the continent that is likely to be negatively impacted by climate variability and change. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 1996) Africa’s vulnerability arises from a combination of many factors, including extreme poverty, high rate of population increase, frequent natural disasters such as droughts and floods, and agricultural practices (both crop and livestock productions) that are heavily dependent on rainfall. Extreme natural occurrences such as floods and droughts are becoming increasingly frequent and severe. The high vulnerability of Africa to the negative impacts of climate variability and change is also attributed to its low adaptive capacity.

 

Climate variability and change has further exacerbated the scarcity of natural resources in the continent leading to conflicts in access, ownership and use of the same. Natural resources scarcity is known to trigger competitions for the meagre resources both from individuals and institutions hence affecting human security in the continent.

 

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) through its Environmental Security Programme (ESP) is organising an international conference to bring together experts, practitioners, policy makers and researchers to share experiences on the best practices in handling this unavoidable environmental insecurity. This is in recognition of the act that climate change and its impacts are a complex phenomenon that requires a multi-disciplinary approach in addressing them. ISS, as a research institution, works towards a stable and peaceful Africa characterised by sustainable development, human rights, the rule of law, democracy and collaborative security.

 

The conference aims at addressing the following questions among others: How vulnerable are the economies of Africa to climate variability and change impacts? How are national and regional institutions prepared to mitigate the impacts of climate variability and change? How is climate variability and change likely to affect existing traditional norms governing access, use and management of natural resources in the continent? Are the environmental related policies in African countries effectively addressing issues related to climate variability and change?

 

Date: 14 May 2009
Venue: Entebbe, Uganda

 

For more information, please contact Dr Donald Anthony Mwiturubani: E-mail: [email protected] or Dr Rose Mwebaza: E-mail: [email protected], Tel: + 254 20 300 5726/28

 

Conference Documentation