10th U6+ Consortium of African Universities International Conference

It is understood that the major natural cause of weather and climate is solar radiation. But as soon as there is imbalance between the incoming (the electromagnetic shortwave radiation) and the outgoing (infrared) radiation due to persistent emissions of greenhouse gases, there arises a change in climate of which abnormal variability in the distribution of the elements of weather and climate (Temperature, Precipitation/Rainfall, wind, relative humidity, evaporation and evapotranspiration) are indicators. Therefore, since most of man’s economic endeavors towards survival and development are anthropogenic, it implies that the various anthropogenic activities leading greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions stand clearly as the root cause of global warming, temperature anomalies, climate variability and climate change all over the globe. According to NOAA (), the trends of GHG emissions since year 1840 (shortly after the industrial revolution) match perfectly with the trends of global warming (temperature anomaly), climate variability and climate change. This is an indication that the entire world is vulnerable to the aftermath of this change. It is pertinent to note that UN (2006), indicated that less than 4% of the global emissions of greenhouse gases can be attributed to Africa. Therefore, it sounds contradictory to hear that Africa that generates only 2-3 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions is regarded as a continent that is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate variability and climate change. Normally, one would think from the pint of view of UN (2006), that the vulnerability of Africa to climate change is either contradictorily or exaggerated. This paper has critically examined the reasons for this contradictory view, probed into the justification from the point of view of the continent’s endowed environmental attributes, dominant economic activity and the magnitude of endangered biodiversity. The holistic actions needed to be taken, particularly the processes involved in strengthening collaboration and partnerships for weather and climate services in order to attain sustainability spiral that will compliment, rather than being detrimental to efforts towards objective adaptation, climate resilience and sustainable development have been stressed.