"LDCs must recognize building capacity for climate change adaptation requires expertise"

Sharma El Sheik, Egypt: Least Developed Countries (LDCs) must recognize that building capacity for climate change adaptation requires expert knowledge and sustainability and that universities, not governments, are better positioned to take the lead.

Prof Mizan Khan, Director of the LDC Universities Consortium on Climate Change and Development (LUCCC), stated at one of the UNFCCC capacity-building events held on Wednesday at COP27 that most government officials lack practical knowledge to understand the science of climate change.

He claims that a lack of expertise jeopardises decision-making and implementation.

Khan claims that most LCDs are falling behind in climate change adaptation because capacity-building initiatives are disrupted when governments change.

He stated that developing partners must begin empowering universities with resources that will allow them to improve climate change in their institutions.

The Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI), formerly ReNAPRI, responded to LUCCC's position by stating that it recognises the importance of higher learning institutions and that, as an institution, it is collaborating with academic institutions to co-create courses and programmes that address the realities posed by climate change.

Eisenhower Mkaka, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, agreed that the fight against climate change must be science-based and that a scientific body would be ideal to lead the fight.

Inger Ander, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme, emphasised the importance of prioritising climate education, particularly among youth, because knowledge is required to combat climate change.