EU-Africa Scientific Cooperation on Climate Change
Presented by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Luca Perez, European Commission (EC), presented successful scientific cooperation between the EU and Africa, focusing on the relationship among climate change and water, health and adaptive strategies. Perez summarized the Framework Programme, a seven-year project jointly managed by the EU and 14 associated countries. Etienne Coyette, EC, shared experiences on progress achieved and pointed to science as key to overcoming challenges such as speeding-up implementation, providing concrete results, and mobilizing
stakeholders.
Antonio Bombelli, Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change (CMCC), underlined the importance of focusing studies in Africa. He shared ClimAFRICA’s objectives to improve information and tools regarding adaptation and action through enhanced scientific cooperation and capacity development. Joseph Nzau Mutemi, IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre, welcomed the
increase in governments´ commitments on the food crisis and increasing support for climatic outlooks in real time. Jean-Marie Kileshye Onema, WaterNet, bridged the connection between climate change and economic challenge, ecosystem decline, and human development. He noted the development of a framework for monitoring and predicting a timely warning system to increase long-term resilience. He summarized WaterNet projects and initiatives, such as development of tools for water management and drought mitigation, and addressing human welfare and agricultural drought.