UNESCO is emphasizing the critical need for climate change education and collaboration between scientists and journalists in southern Africa to enhance awareness and preparedness. The organization made this call at a recent conference in Pretoria themed “Building Science Communication Capacity in the SADC Region.” During the conference, experts highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on poorer countries, highlighting the need for community adaptation, resilience building, and early warning systems to mitigate climate change impacts. Southern Africa, grappling with severe food insecurity following El Niño-induced droughts, has been one of the hardest hit regions by climate change. Worse, the region faces challenges like inadequate infrastructure and poor disaster planning. Experts called for climate adaptation studies to address these vulnerabilities. They also stressed the importance of incorporating climate education into school curricula to equip future generations with tools to address climate challenges from an early age.
SOURCE: VOA NEWS