Don urges EAC countries to translate climate change policies into actions

A Tanzanian university professor on Wednesday appealed to the East African Community (EAC) member states to translate climate change policies into actions by finding solutions to problems arising from the weather phenomenon.

"Climate change is a monster which needs remedial actions from every actor," Prof Aidan Msafiri of Mwenge Catholic University said.

Speaking at a ceremony to launch a book authored by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, a German think tank, Msafiri spelled out nine recommendations to the EAC nations on climate change mitigation, including the need to involve all actors in the dialogue for finding solutions to the problems arising from the scourge.

He said one of recommendations was the need to refrain from commercialization of climate change issues on the basis of competing for disbursed funds and the need for sharing good ideas on tackling the problems arising from climate change.

Other recommendations were the need to go beyond political will, the need to harmonize climate change policies among EAC nations and the need to uphold climate change justice, equity and credibility, said Msafiri.

He added that EAC member countries of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan should also strengthen solidarity in mitigating adverse effects of climate change, translating climate change mitigation ideas into concrete actions and mobilizing people to form co-operatives for fighting against negative effects of climate change.

Stefanie Brinkei, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung project manager for Tanzania, said raising EAC funds on climate change was important for harnessing renewable energy resources necessary to control climate change, which was an obstacle to sustainable development.

"East African countries have abundant renewable energy resources, but they need to increase capacity for using them to mitigate the impact of climate change," said Brinkei. Endit