Des maisons construites qui tiennent compte des matériaux adaptés à l’écosystème, à l’ensoleillement, à la pluviométrie et à la ventilation… Il y a longtemps que la chose est devenue rare sous nos cieux. Il n’est plus tenu rigueur à l’orientation, parce qu’on sait, de toutes les façons, que pour le confort et contre la chaleur, on peut faire usage du climatiseur ou du ventilateur. Les maisons, surtout celles des agglomérations urbaines sont donc illustrées par l’utilisation du ciment et de la tôle ondulée. Une telle maison, dans un contexte de changement climatique, risque de ne pas être confortable. L’Association de la Voûte Nubienne propose une technique qui prend en compte le climat et ses conséquences. Didier Hubert MADAFIME, CotonouCécilia Rinaudo, la Directrice Adjointe de l’Association de la VoûteNubienne était à la COP 23 qui a eu lieu à Bonn en Allemagne du 6au 17 novembre 2017. Accompagnée de la responsable du développement de ladite Association Amarys Preuss, elle était allée faire la promotion de la Voûte Nubienne. L’endroit était idéal parce qu’il était question des changements climatiques et surtout de ses menaces. Et au-delà des autres secteurs, le bâtiment est aussi celui qui sera davantage touché par le phénomène. Dans ce contexte précis d’économies menacées par des dépenses excessives en énergie, écrit Djossê Léobard Houénou, dans son ouvrage « Design7 : Architecture africaine, de la tradition à la modernité », il devient nécessaire d’imaginer des solutions innovantes qui prennent en compte nos réalités climatiques. De quoi s’agit-il en fait ? La Voûte Nubienne est une technique de construction ancestrale originaire de Nubie, au Sud de l’Egypte et du Nord du Soudan, inconnue en Afrique de l’Ouest, qui n’utilise ni le bois, devenu rare, ni la tôle, chère et inconfortable. Réalisée principalement en terre crue, matériau largement disponible, la Voûte Nubienne est une solution d’habitat adaptée, qui évite l’utilisation des ressources ligneuses, répondant aux usages privés et communautaires, en milieu rural comme en ville. C’est ce que propose l’Association la Voûte Nubienne pour plusieurs pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest à savoir : le Burkina-Faso, le Mali, le Sénégal et le Bénin. Il est tout à fait adapté au climat du Bénin surtout au nord, souligne Cécilia Rinaudo. « Là, on est sur un climat sec où il va faire très chaud, renchérit Madame Rinaudo qui estime que c’est une technique de construction entièrement en terre crue qui permet la réalisation de bâtiment durable, écologique ». On ne va pas utiliser du bois, de la tôle ni du ciment. Une innovation en matière de construction La seule chose utilisée ici, ce sont des briques en terre crue séchée au soleil pour le mur et la toiture. La propriété de la terre va donner une qualité thermique très importante, une énergie passive très importante. « Quand il va faire chaud ou froid à l’extérieur constate la Directrice Adjointe de l’Association la Voûte Nubienne, le bâtiment va être très confortable. C’est très important dans le contexte des changements climatiques. Encore plus important également avec…

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (PAMACC News) - African Forest Forum, a pan-African Non-Governmental Organisation, is leading the way in empowering stakeholders in the forestry sector to develop strategies for sustainable forest management and the fight against climate change. The organisation says sustainable forest management in Africa is imperative to mitigate the effects of climate change. But the capacities of professional and technical stakeholders in African forestry sector have to be strengthened to permit for better forest management. It is against this backdrop that a four day training workshop under the theme ‘ ModellingClimate and Applications to the Forestry Sector, is taking place from 9-13 April 2018 in Osun State University, Nigeria. The workshop that brings over 70participants from 17 African countries according to Godwin Kowero, the Executive Secretary of AFF, is part the organisation’s strategic plan being put in place acrossAfrican countries to douce the effects of environmental degradation and climate change. « We are committed to work with the different stakholders to better drive efforts towards sustainable forest management, » Kowero said at the opening of the workshop Monday 9th April. Climate change currently affecting the African environment he noted, remains a serious threat to human lives, hence the urgency for sustainable forest management in Africa. AFF was therefore committed to drive sustainable management and forest conservation pathways to better improve the socio-economic well-being of people in the African continent, he said. The forum he revealed was working closely with the UN and ECOWAS to address the issue of deforestation, in Africa. According AFF, Africa requires strengthening professionalism and work ethic in the forestry sector in order to better manage and use African forest and trees resources sustainably. And this also applies to how the continent handles climate change issues. In this regard the “Strengthening sustainable forest management in Africa project” recognizes the important role Professional Forestry Associations (PFAs) play in promoting forest governance, professionalism in the forest sector and ensuring a high level of competence, independence and integrity in the profession. These are all critical to sustainable forest management in Africa, a note from African Forestry Forum said. The workshop training objectives is focused on facilitating mobilization of forestry and related stakeholders in ECOWAS countries to address issues more professionally and in a harmonized manner. Participants accordingly are drilled on the basic concepts and principles of modelling climate; climate models used in different sectors (agriculture, terrestrial/vegetation systems, water resources, coastal systems, and soils),information requirements for climate models used in the different sectors, how to use the models to predict climate impacts in different sectors, and with emphasis on forestry, among others. Moussa Leko, ECOWAS representative, also pointed out at the opening of the training session the commitment of his institution to support member-states create a platform for synergy among stakeholders, to sustain forest management globally. Leko emphasised on the importance of forestry on food security and renewable energy , the life –wire of sustainable development. He commended the AFF for the initiative thatwill go a long way to enhance forest…

NAIROBI Kenya (PAMACC News) - A team of scientists from the Kenya Markets Trust (KMT) on April 11, 2018 shared all the key research findings of four different thematic studies conducted in Kenya under the Pathways to Resilience in Semi-Arid Economies (PRISE) project.“The Kenya government is now focusing on the “Big Four” agenda aimed at improving livelihoods, creating jobs and growing the economy by focusing on critical areas of the economy in the next five years,” noted Kamau Kuria, the head of KMT. “It is noteworthy that part of the PRISE study, which aimed at strengthening the understanding and knowledge of decision makers on the threats and opportunities that semi-arid economies face in relation to climate change, will go a long way in helping unlock the potential of semi-arid lands in Kenya and thus enhance their contribution to the national agenda,” he told delegates drown from Kenya , Senegal, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Overseas Development Institute (ODI) during the event to disseminate key research findings in a Nairobi Hotel. The study, which was commissioned by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada and the UK based Department for International Development (DFID) aims atsupporting climate resilient economic development in partner countries by identifying opportunities for adaptation that are also opportunities for investment by the public and private sectors.“These findings from Kenya will help change the narrative in semi-arid areas,” said Dr Eva Ludifrom the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) – which is coordinating the PRISE project at a global level.According to Dr Evans Kitui of IDRC, direct involvement of government officials both at the county and the national level is a pointer towards implementation of policies that will emanate from the four studies. “In the past, research has not been well appreciated. But now, we can see a lot of government participation,” he said.One of the studies found that in the past 50 years, temperatures have risen in all the 21 semi arid counties in Kenya, with five of them recording an increase of more than 1.5oC increase. They include Turkana (1.8oC), West Pokot, ElgeyoMarakwet (1.91oC), Baringo (1.8oC), Laikipia (1.59oC) and Narok (1.75oC). This, according to Dr Mohammed Said, one of the lead researchers, has impacted greatly on livestock survival, on one hand presenting a disaster, and on the other hand providing an opportunity that can be exploited“There were winners and losers,” he told delegates at the forum. “Generally, cattle do not survive the higher temperatures, while at the same time, sheep and goat population increased exponentially,” said Dr Said.According to the study, whose theme was to harness opportunities for climate-resilient economic development in semi-arid lands and identifying the potential for economic transformation and diversification in semi-arid lands especially in the beef value chain, the overall population of cattle in all the semi arid counties reduced by more than 26% between the year 1977 and 2016.However, the study also reveals that goats and sheep population increased tremendously by 76% in the same period, with camels’ population increased by 14%. “This…

NAIROBI, Kenya, PAMACC News– Climate experts representing governments, private sector, finance and research institutions from Africa met in Nairobi, Kenya from 9–10 April 2018 to discuss collaboration and technology transfer related to climate change ahead of the Africa Carbon Forum. Nationally-selected technology focal points (National Designated Entities, or NDEs) from more than 40 countries including Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa shared experiences and best practices in the region. The United Nations Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) hosted to the regional forum. "Africa is facing increasing challenges from changing weather patterns, increasing droughts and extreme rain and floods that have an impact on the security of food supplies. By serving as a bridge between developing countries' technology needs and the proven expertise of finance, private sector and research experts from around the world, the CTCN builds partnerships that achieve countries' climate and development objectives", said CTCN Director Jukka Uosukainen. The CTCN promotes the development and transfer of clean technologies, and provides developing countries with access to free technology solutions at their request by mobilizing relevant technology experts from a global network of more than 400 technology companies and institutions to design and deliver customized solutions. Over 100 technology transfers are currently underway in more than 75 countries for sectors ranging from agriculture and energy to industry and transportation. The CTCN provides expert policy and technology support to developing country stakeholders, coordinated by the NDEs. "Most African countries have chosen clean energy technologies as a part of their environmental solutions. ICRAF supports these efforts through its work in developing cleaner options for woody biomass-based energy, a key technology used across the continent," said Tony Simons, ICRAF Director General. "In partnership with CTCN, we contribute to environmentally sustainable clean energy solutions by helping countries in Africa to formulate national policies and sub national programs designed to meet their national targets on climate through agroforestry". As the implementing arm of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Technology Mechanism, the Climate Technology Centre is hosted and managed by the United Nations Environment and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The forum is organized together with the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), a founding CTCN consortium partner. The Forum will be held during Africa Climate Week along with the Africa Carbon Forum (11–13 April).