Southern Collaboration 'Key to Adaptation', Says Climate Scientist

This article explores the claim that developing countries will succeed in adapting to climate change only by sharing local understanding and knowledge with other low-income nations.

Author Katherine Nightingale gleans key points from a June 2008 presentation by climate scientist Saleemul Huq of the International Institute for Environment and Development. Huq argues that North-South knowledge transfer is a valid strategy for mitigating climate change: For example, research institutions in developed countries can create a renewable energy technology and transfer it for use in a developing country. However, he stresses, to adapt to climate change South-South knowledge exchange is necessary. This is because "adaptation can't be 'invented' in the same way as mitigation techniques. With adaptation you learn by doing."

In light of these assertions, Huq is concerned that there is weaker information at a local level, where the actors in adaptation reside. To rectify this, he believes that the research community needs to be brought together with practitioners such as non-governmental organisation (NGO) representatives. Furthermore, he suggests that local work and pilot studies need to be carried out to engage policymakers at a country level. "We don't have time to follow the usual process of publishing research and waiting for it to trickle down to the people on the ground."

A key strategy for widely disseminating information about successful adaptation strategies is engaging the media, Huq explains. "If we can give the media good stories about successful adaptation strategies then they might be willing to take them up - a change from gloom-and-doom stories. Those of us who know about these projects need to tell the media about them," said Huq. In essence, the recommendation is to approach adaptation communication by getting the most appropriate people, with authority, to speak out and help communities feel empowered to act.