In his draft statement, Hon Lamin Kaba Bajo, the minister for Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, said the high dependence on the exploitation of non-mineral natural resources and by extension, our status of development the climate change is the main status of our socio-economic well-being and development in West Africa.
“However, like any resource, the extremes, that is, too much or too little, in its distribution over space and time pose a significant threat to our well being. Furthermore, the climate resource is such that humankind does not possess the capability to significantly alter its outcome.
It is therefore not surprising that hardly a day passes without the media reporting on climate hazards occurring somewhere in the global village, causing damage to property and the environment, disruption to livelihoods and sometimes, the loss of human lives,” he said.
Hon Bajo added that hazards of climate change affect all countries, particularly West Africa, where climate risks further exacerbates the already vulnerable socio-economic situation. The vulnerability of society to climate variability and change is likely to depend more on changes in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather and climate events than on changes in the mean climate.
He revealed that climate events and extreme weather would become more frequent in the 21st Century, adding that the role and responsibility of the climate community has become very crucial.
“Your understanding of the climate system and by extension, your interpretation of various climate events is coming under scrutiny by the public and authorities. The demand for information services on weather and climate is growing and will continue to grow because as extreme conditions increase, so will a greater number of people affected and hence the need for services to reduce their exposure,” he said, adding that their contribution has become more paramount.
While he implored participants to make best use of the seminar, he commended the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the UK Met. Office, and the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute for making the seminar a possible.
Mr Bernard Gomez chaired the occasion and other speakers include Dr Mohammed Kadi of ACMAD, Dr Omar Baddour of WMO, and Dr Akbert Klein Tank, of KNMI.
The meeting, which brought together participants from the sub-region would help increase regional research synergies by sharing insight and improve analyses between neighbouring countries, whilst also availing them the opportunity to use available climate data from countries in the region to enable detailed assessments of observed climate variability and change.
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