This presentation was made at a forum on Climate Change in Saboba. The presentation explored problems associated with perceiving and interpreting climate change concepts and the attitudes affecting adaptation, mitigation and other response mechanisms.

1. Climate Change Risks, Adaptation
and Mitigation
drs. P. B. MPUAN
STS BUREAU LTD
mpuanp@gmail.com
+233 055 70 79591
Grassroots Perceptions, Interpretations and
Response Mechanisms
29-Jul-17
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2. OUTLINE
1. INTRODUCTION
2. CLIMATE CHANGE
i. Risks
ii. Adaptation
iii. Mitigation
3. PERCEPTIONS
4. INTERPRETATIONS
5. RESPONSE MECHANISMS
6. CONCLUSION
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3. INTRODUCTION
The climate, what has changed?
UN Forum on Sustainable
Development
“Eradicating poverty and
promoting prosperity in a changing
world”.
“Climate Change in
Saboba: Reality or
Myth?”
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4. CLIMATE CHANGE
Risks and Vulnerabilities
Why?
 Northern region has high
vulnerability to climate change
 Lack of consensus (myth vs
reality)
 Poor practices e.g. farming,
construction
 Lack of certainty (will there be
harvest this year?
How?
 Agriculture: food security.
 Health: animal diseases,
respiratory diseases, cancer.
 Economy: livelihood changes,
poverty, underdevelopment, fossil
fuels.
 Politics: policy, RE, sustainable
development.
 Education: research, innovation.
 Religion: change in beliefs.
 Peace and Security: strain,
tension, competition.
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5. CLIMATE CHANGE
Adaptation and Mitigation
 Migration
 Irrigation
 improved seeds
 Storage
 Credit
 Sustainability
 Renewables
 Early warning systems: forecasting
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6. PERCEPTIONS
Science or Tradition?
 Gallop Poll (2007-2008)
 Samuel Nii Ardey Codjoe • George Owusu (2011)
 Irit Eguavoen (2013)
 61% of people were aware in 2008. In Ghana, 26% aware
 The majority of people in rural Ghana had never heard of climate change
 Perception is based more in local social terms rather than on global natural
science knowledge
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7. INTERPRETATIONS
Culture Matters
Concepts: Local interpretation:
 Climate Change ??
 Climate Change Adaptation ??
 Climate Change Mitigation ??
 Risks ??
 Vulnerabilities ??
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8. RESPONSE MECHANISMS
Need for Action
 Global, national, local.
Missing Links
 Consensus on science of climate change
 Sustainability implementation
 Behavioural change as response to the Anthropocene (human-
centred effects on environment)
 Systems and Technologies
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9. CONCLUSION
For Better or For Worse?
What is the future going to be?
 We want it better, therefore:
 More research => More science
 More engagement
 Reduction in risks and vulnerabilities
 More adaptation measures
 More mitigation measures
 More partnerships (PPPs)
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10. 29-Jul-17
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