African scientists rally for equity in climate research

Environment CS Soipan Tuya (in red) with delegates during the launch of the IPCC 7th assessment cycle for Kenya. [Courtesy]

Kenyan climate scientists have taken a bold stance to address the underrepresentation of African voices in climate research.

This comes against a backdrop of the global scientific community that has long recognised the urgent need for comprehensive climate research and action, yet there remains a persistent gap in the representation and participation of African scientists.

Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Soipan Tuya emphasised the urgent need for collaborative action and a more inclusive approach to climate research and decision-making.

"The science presented in the 6th assessment cycle paints a grim picture of the threats posed by unmitigated climate change," noted CS Tuya, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. The report's findings underscore the imperative of immediate collaborative efforts to achieve global goals, ensuring equitable solutions.

However, she highlighted a concerning statistic: "Only 11 per cent of the authors were from Africa in the 6th assessment cycle, and just under 1 per cent were Kenyan."

Despite this modest improvement, CS Tuya stressed that regional-specific concerns must not be solely advocated by those who lack a comprehensive understanding of the intricate challenges faced.

CS Tuya emphasised the untapped potential of local knowledge and indigenous communities. "We believe that the climate change research agenda should align with the needs of our people in Kenya and the region," she stated. Collaborations across sectors and stakeholders, she argued, are pivotal in addressing climate change comprehensively, from research to action to financing.

With Kenya's economy and development closely intertwined with climate change, CS Tuya unveiled plans to bolster Kenya's participation in the IPCC during the upcoming cycle.

"We cannot achieve our goals in isolation; we need effective collaboration," she asserted. Recognising the challenges faced by African nations, scientists at the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) conducted research revealing barriers to participation, such as limited awareness of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) processes and funding constraints.

Addressing these concerns, CS Tuya expressed her hopes for immediate solutions to be generated during collaborative discussions. "We want to make our voices heard prominently," she emphasised. Looking ahead, she urged partners to join forces at the start of the 7th assessment cycle, ensuring Kenyan input shapes the outlines of IPCC reports. "We want our experts to contribute extensively, and our reviews to be thorough," CS Tuya highlighted.

While Dr Cromwel Lukorito Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group II voiced his concern about the limited involvement of African researchers in critical climate research initiatives. He pointed out that a mere 11 per cent of the authors of the IPCC 6th assessment report hailed from Africa. "We need to increase support and engagement of African societies in the 7th IPCC assessment report and beyond," Prof. Cromwel emphasized.

"First and foremost, we need to see how we strengthen the capacity of our national focal points," he stated. These points are the linchpins for effective engagement with universities, research institutions, and partners for meaningful progress.

"Limited funding for Africa remains a major bottleneck," Cromwel noted. He highlighted that just 3.8 per cent of the staggering USD1.51 trillion global funding for climate change research between 1990 and 2020 was allocated to African topics, with African institutions receiving a mere 14.5 per cent of the allocation. This, he stressed, necessitates a substantial increase in research funding for African institutions.

On authorship for IPCC reports, Prof. Cromwel emphasized the necessity of recruiting more African authors. "We need to reorganize ourselves as soon as possible to take leadership in research," he urged. He also stressed the importance of partner institutions providing logistical support for accessing literature from global centres of excellence.

Moreover, Dr Cromwel highlighted the need to strengthen the scientific impact of African research. "We must endeavour to document initiatives beyond the IPCC and mobilise resources to ensure our scientific works find their way to high-impact journals," he noted. This would enhance the credibility and visibility of Africa's contributions.

Taking a critical look at knowledge gaps, Prof Cromwel identified several areas, including climate modelling, attribution, vulnerability assessment, and loss and damage quantification. "We must reengineer our research agenda and revise national research institutes to equip ourselves to tackle these challenges," he asserted.

The recently concluded IPCC 6th assessment cycle, which resulted in a comprehensive synthesis report, Prof. Cromwel applauded the achievement. Yet, he stressed the need to address knowledge gaps highlighted by African scientists. "These gaps will shape the scientific research agenda for the upcoming 7th assessment report," he said.

The University of Nairobi celebrated the election of Prof Cromwel Lukorito, the Vice Chancellor stressed the critical need for a multidisciplinary approach in tackling the complex challenges posed by climate change. "The imperative to bridge the gap between science, policy, and practice cannot be overstated."

He pointed out that addressing climate change demands innovative, holistic, and cross-generational solutions that ensure sustainability and the well-being of both humanity and ecosystems in the face of unprecedented risks and uncertainties.