AFRICA CLIMATE SUMMIT 2023: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE SOCIAL DIMENSION

Year 2024, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 41 - 61, 01.02.2024

Süleyman Dal

https://doi.org/10.58851/africania.1374553

Abstract

Climate change, driven by its effects of increasing greenhouse gas emissions, refers to systematic and long-term changes in the planet's climate system. These changes manifest themselves with various effects, such as the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and higher surface temperatures. Beyond being an environmental issue, climate change has political, economic, and social dimensions. The African continent, where poverty rates are high, is the region that feels the impacts of climate change most intensely in social and societal contexts. The purpose of addressing the social dimension of climate change is to minimize its adverse effects through a comprehensive approach. In this context, this study focuses on the social dimension of climate change and examines the Africa Climate Summit 2023 (ACS’23). The goal of this study is to shed light on the social dimension of climate change in Africa. This study argues that summits play a crucial role in setting agendas, addressing issues, and generating solutions within the framework of climate change. In this context, it seeks to answer questions such as; what the effects of climate change are in general, how it impacts societies on a social level, and what the positioning of this issue is in the ACS’23. To address these questions, a descriptive analysis method is employed, centering on the work of the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU), with a literature review. The results indicate that climate change has gained prominence in discourse at the global/regional level, but there have been delays in taking action. They also highlight the critical importance of sustainable policies and financial resources in addressing the (social) problems caused by climate change in the African continent. This study is expected to contribute to the academic literature -in Türkiye- by drawing more attention to the social issues in Africa as a result of climate change.

Keywords

Africa, summit, climate change, social dimension, sustainability

2023 AFRİKA İKLİM ZİRVESİ: İKLİM DEĞİŞİKLİĞİ VE SOSYAL BOYUT

Abstract

Sera gazı emisyonlarını artırıcı etkileri nedeniyle hızlanan iklim değişikliği; sistematik ve uzun süreli olarak, gezegenin iklim sisteminde meydana gelen değişiklikleri ifade etmektedir. Bu değişiklikler; şiddetli ve sık hava olaylarının artması, deniz seviyelerinin yükselmesi ile yüzey sıcaklıklarında artış gibi farklı etkilerle kendini göstermektedir. Çevresel bir sorunun ötesinde iklim değişikliğinin; siyasi, ekonomik ve sosyal boyutu bulunmaktadır. Yoksulluğun yüksek seyrettiği Afrika, toplumsal ve sosyal bağlamda iklim değişikliğinin etkilerini en yoğun hisseden bölge/kıtadır. Sosyal boyutta iklim değişikliğinin ele alınma amacı, bütüncül bir yaklaşımla olumsuz etkileri en aza indirmektir. Bu anlamda iklim değişikliğinin sosyal yönüne odaklanan çalışma, 2023 Afrika İklim Zirvesi’ni incelemektedir. Çalışmanın amacı, sosyal boyutuyla iklim değişikliğini Afrika özelinde ele almaktır. Çalışmada; gündem oluşturma, sorunların ele alınması ve çözüm üretilmesi çerçevesinde zirvelerin önemli olduğu savunulmaktadır. Bu minvalde; genel olarak iklim değişikliğinin etkileri nelerdir, sosyal olarak toplumları nasıl etkilemektedir, 2023 Afrika İklim Zirvesi’nde bu hususun konumlanışı ne durumdadır, sorularına cevap aranmaktadır. Bu bağlamda betimsel analiz yöntemi kullanılarak Birleşmiş Milletler (BM) ile Afrika Birliği’nin çalışmaları merkeze alınıp literatür taraması yapılmıştır. Sonuçlar; global/bölgesel düzeyde iklim değişikliğinin söylem bazında öne çıktığını, aksiyon almada gecikmeler yaşandığını, Afrika kıtasında iklim değişikliğinin sebep olduğu (sosyal) problemlere çözüm üretmede sürdürülebilir politikaların ve mali kaynak oluşturmanın kritik öneme sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Çalışmanın; iklim değişikliğinin bir neticesi olarak, Afrika’daki sosyal sorunlara daha çok dikkat çekme noktasında -Türkiye’deki- akademik literatüre katkı sağlaması beklenmektedir.

Keywords

Afrika, zirve, iklim değişikliği, sosyal boyut, sürdürülebilirlik

References

• Abbass, K.; Qasim, M. Z.; Song, H.; Murshed, M.; Mahmood, H. (2022). A review of the global climate change impacts, adaptation, and sustainable mitigation measures. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 29: 42539–42559. Springer.
• Abeygunawardena, Piya et al. (2003). Poverty and climate change: reducing the vulnerability of the poor through adaptation.
• ACET -African Center for Economic Transformation-. (2023). Climate finance: how to move from the trillions to the people? Website: https://acetforafrica.org/research-and-analysis/insights-ideas/articles/trillions-people/ Access date: 4.11.2023.
• AFDB -African Development Bank Group-. Climate change in Africa. Website: https://www.afdb.org/en/cop25/climate-change-africa#:~:text=As%20of%20November%202019%2C%2049,gas%20emissions%20and%20building%20resilience. Access date: 4.11.2023.
• Africa Climate Summit 2023 (ACS’23), official website: https://africaclimatesummit.org/ Access date: 9.10.2023. ACS’23 (2023). Climate action innovation hub.
• ACW (the Africa Climate Week). (2023). Regional exchange on climate action acceleration at the Africa climate week 2023. Nairobi, Kenya.
• Adano, W. R. & Daudi, F. (2012). Links between climate change, conflict and governance in Africa. Institute for Security Studies. Paper: 234.
• African Union (AU). (2023). The African leaders Nairobi declaration on climate change and call to action. Kenya: Africa Climate Summit (ACS’23).
• AU (2022). African union climate change and resilient development strategy and action plan: 2022-2032.
• AU Commission (2015). Agenda 2063: The Africa we want. Popular version.
• Averchenkova, A.; Gannon, K. E.; Curran, P. (2019). Governance of climate change policy: A case study of South Africa. London: Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science. Policy report.
• Belchior- Rocha, H. & Anile, L. H. D. S. S. (2023). Climate justice and toxic environments in Latin America: Role for environmental social work. Devendraraj Madhanagopal & Bala Raju Nikku. (Ed). Social Work and Climate Justice: International Perspectives. NY: Routledge.
• Bergquist, P.; Mildenberger, M.; Stokes, L. C. (2020). Combining climate, economic, and social policy builds public support for climate action in the US. Environmental Research Letters, 15, 054019. IOP publishing.
• Bhatasara, S. & Nyamwanza, A. (2018). Sustainability: a missing dimension in climate change adaptation discourse in Africa? Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences, 15:1, 83-97.
• Dietz, Thomas; Shwom, R. L.; Whitley, C. T. (2020). Climate change and society. Annual Review of Sociology. 46: 135–158.
• G20. (2023). G20 New Delhi leaders’ declaration. 9-10 September 2023. India: New Delhi.
• Gifford, Eva & Gifford, R. (2016). The largely unacknowledged impact of climate change on mental health. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 72: 5, 292-297.
• Giovanis, Eleftherios & Ozdamar, O. (2022). The impact of climate change on budget balances and debt in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Climatic Change, 172: 34. Springer.
• Gough, Ian. (2011). Climate change and public policy futures. London: The British Academy.
• Gough, Ian. (2013). Climate change, social policy, and global governance. Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy, 29 (3).
• Green Climate Fund (GCF). Website: https://www.greenclimate.fund/ Access date: 4.11.2023.
• Hirvilammi, Tuuli; Häikiö, L.; Johansson, H.; Koch, M.; Perkiö, J. (2023). Social policy in a climate emergency context: Towards an ecosocial research agenda. Journal of Social Policy, 52, 1–23. Cambridge University Press.
• Howard, Amanda; Rawsthorne, M.; Joseph, P.; Terare, M.; Sampson, D.; Katrak- Harris, M.; (2023). Social Work and Human Services Responsibilities in a Time of Climate Change: Country, Community and Complexity. NY: Routledge.
• Hvinden, Bjørn & Schoyen, M. A. Social policy research and climate change. pp. 236-250.
• Independent Group of Scientists (IGS). (2023). Global sustainable development report 2023: Times of crisis, times of change: Science for accelerating transformations to sustainable development. NY: UN publication.
• Kaddo, Jameel R. (2016). Climate change: Causes, effects, and solutions. A with Honors Projects. 164.
• Karimi, Vahid; Valizadeh, N.; Rahmani, S.; Bijani, M.; Karimi, M. (2022). Beyond climate change: Impacts, adaptation strategies, and influencing factors. Suhaib A. Bandh. (Ed.). Climate Change: The Social and Scientific Construct. Switzerland: Springer.
• Mburia, Robert. (2015). Africa Climate change policy: An adaptation and development challenge in a dangerous world. Climate Emergency Institute.
• Mearns, Robin & Norton, A. (Ed.). (2010). Social dimensions of climate change: Equity and vulnerability in a warming world. Washington DC: The World Bank.
• Müller-Kuckelberg, Kristina. (2012). Climate change and its impact on the livelihood of farmers and agricultural workers in Ghana. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Ghana Office.
• National Research Council. (2013). Climate change: Evidence, impacts, and choices. 2nd edition.
• Noyoo, Ndangwa. (2023). Green social work for climate change: Curriculum innovations for a post- apartheid South Africa. Devendraraj Madhanagopal & Bala Raju Nikku. (Ed). Social Work and Climate Justice: International Perspectives. NY: Routledge.
• Osman-Elasha, B. (2009). Climate change impacts, adaptation and links to sustainable development in Africa. Unasylva 231/232, Vol. 60.
• Pichon, E. (2022). The African Union's first climate strategy and EU-Africa climate cooperation. European Parliamentary Research Service.
• Public Health Institute. (2016). Climate Change 101: climate science basics. Center for Climate Change and Health.
• Rasmus, H.; Jorgensen, S.; Paul B., S. (2008). Climate change: Challenges for social protection in Africa. [S.l.]: SSRN.
• Safonov, G. (2019). Climate change, energy and environment: Social consequences of climate change. FES.
• Sengupta, S. & Dahlet, G. (2023). Policy coherence between social protection and climate action: initial findings from global studies and projects. Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre.
• Sorgho, R.; Quiñonez, C. A. M.; Louis, V. R.; Winkler, V.; Dambach, P.; Sauerborn, R.; Horstick, O. (2020). Climate change policies in 16 West African countries: A systematic review of adaptation with a focus on agriculture, food security, and nutrition. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17, 8897. MDPI.
• United Nations (UN). (2023). The sustainable development goals report: Towards a rescue plan for people and planet. Special edition. NY: UN Publications.
• UN official website: https://www.un.org/en/ Access date: 8.11.2023.
• UN (2015). Paris Agreement.
• UN. Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. A/RES/70/1. Official website: sustainabledevelopment.un.org Access date: 7.10.2023.
• UN Ghana. (2023). Official website: https://ghana.un.org/en/244689-africa-suffers-disproportionately-climate-change Access date: 4.11.2023.
• UNDP. (2007). Fighting climate change: human solidarity in a divided world. Human Development Report 2007/2008. USA: New York.
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (2011). Fact sheet: Climate change science - the status of climate change science today.
• UNFCCC. (2023). Africa Climate Week demonstrates continent’s determination to lead on climate action. Website: https://unfccc.int/news/africa-climate-week-demonstrates-continent-s-determination-to-lead-on-climate-action Access date: 4.11.2023.
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO). (2020). State of the Climate in Africa. Switzerland: WMO