This week, I came upon an article that presented the concerns that EARTH107 has raised in my mind succinctly and comprehensively. This article presented a discussion of climate change as it is related to development in the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), specifically, and on the African continent, in general.
The press release highlights a statement made by the Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms, and Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Disaster and Beach Management of Mauritius, Mr Alain Wong. He explained that climate change presents a formidable issue for SIDS and other states, alike, and that the consequences of climate change will be evident in nearly all sectors of society. The press release was created to document a meeting for the Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in Africa – Recommendations to Policymakers booklet, in which policymakers highlight the effects of climate change on water, agriculture and fisheries, health, as well as coastal issues on a continental scale.
This discussion raised an important idea that I have not yet thought about. That is, communicating evidence-based information to policymakers and members of the public is extremely difficult, especially since the effects of climate change may not be immediately apparent to all (although it probably is, to many).
As a student who focuses quite a bit of energy on methods of scientific communication, I am often concerned with how to present often-confusing concepts in a clear and accessible way. This article raises this as a limitation to effective communication between climate scientists and the public/policymakers in African countries. Specifically, this press release discusses how “the solutions [to climate change] proposed by scientists are hindered by a lack of communication including an excessive reliance on acronyms and scientific jargon which are not understood by policy and decision makers”.
The aforementioned booklet that policymakers have begun to develop will hopefully dispel confusion and make climate change and coastal risk information more accessible for people living in vulnerable SIDS and other coastal areas. This booklet, which focuses on why climate change adaptation and resilience is crucial for Africa and elaborates on how climate change impact can be addressed through targeted policy actions and interventions, is an awesome effort and has the potential to inform many about coastal risks and vulnerability. Further, this effort provides a fine case study in effective scientific communication.
Reference:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201607050915.html
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