Climate Information Communication for Local Adaptations: Policy Dialogue

The exchange of climate information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium, messaged in a practical and useful context contributes to climate communication. This has become increasingly vital in translating science and research, into practice and policy. Timely delivery and access of climate information, and how it is received, becomes important in management of drought, floods, pests, and effects of diseases. Climate information is described as scientific weather and climate forecasts at lead times from daily to seasonal forecasts and climate projections decades ahead. ICT tools such as mobile phones and community radios are considered the most cost-effective tools in the rural communities and offer a new avenue for the dissemination of climate information to a wider reach of people to enhance their livelihoods. This blogpost serves as a formal announcement of an upcoming Webinar on Climate Information Communication for Local Adaptations that will bring these issues into perspective.

 

 

About the Upcoming Climate Information Communication Webinar

10th September 2020 marks the date for this upcoming webinar on Climate Information Communication.  This webinar has been made possible through the collaboration of three key industry players namely:  Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC), the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and the African Researchers Consortium (ARC). The aim of this webinar will be to contribute to the development of a policy options that facilitate the uptake of climate information communication, by exploring the future of how best climate information can be communicated in Kenya for the rural community; the gender factors to consider in climate information communication; and the policy implication of the dynamics on technology, and local community development in disseminating and communicating climate information.

 

A foresight into the key topics of discussion in the Webinar

This upcoming Webinar will explore the following key topics in depth:

The current face of climate information communication in Kenya now and the future of climate communication technology: What is the current situation in terms of climate communication especially in the rural community now?  How does the future of climate communication technology look like, in for instance, five years to come? What is the linkage between information and communications technologies (ICTs) and climate change adaptation?

Forward-thinking leaders have already recognized the role of ICTs in Climate Communication. Dr. Almaz Yohannis, a PhD Research Fellow at the Capacity Building for ICT Development (CB4ICTD) that is affiliated to ACTS, is the lead organizer of this Webinar. She poses remarkably interesting questions connected to this topic. She asks; “How can we disseminate localized climate information and in a format that locals will understand?” “How effective are ICT tools such as radio and mobile phones in dissemination of climate information in our rural communities in Kenya?” This upcoming Webinar will answer these questions and delve deeper into this interesting subject!

Gender Considerations for climate Information communication: Is gender a factor to consider in communicating climate information in Kenya?  There are many individual, social, and cultural factors that influence public understanding of the communication of climate information issue.  This topic will explore how views on climate change differ between men and women. A large body of research shows a small, but consistent, gender gap in environmental views and climate change opinions. On average, women are slightly more likely than men to be concerned about the environment and have stronger pro-climate opinions and beliefs. Scholars have proposed several explanations for this gender gap, including differences in gender socialization and resulting value systems (such as, altruism, compassion), perceptions of general risk and vulnerability, and feminist beliefs including commitment to egalitarian values of fairness and social justice. Read more about this here. In view of this then, is it safe to say that climate communication is more valued and appreciated by women? This webinar will focus on such discussions and create a clarity of thought around this area.

The policy implication of the dynamics on technology, and local community development in climate communication: What are the National and County policies on climate change and ICT specifically on applicability and messaging of Climate information Systems? The Kenyan government has formulated the National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCSR) and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2018-2022, to guide adaptation planning in the country to minimize the negative impacts and optimize on the opportunities presented by climate change. However, for the proposed measures to be effective and widely adopted they must be supported by ICT for development and incorporate gender issues. Climate change is one of the most complex challenges that humankind will face in the next decades. As the change process seems to be irreversible, it becomes urgent to develop sound adaptation processes to the current and future shifts in the climate system. In particular, it is likely that the biggest impacts of change will be on agricultural and food systems over the next few decades, (M. E. Brown, C. C. Funk,2008). It is therefore imperative that clear policies are formulated around climate communication and its necessity. Participation in this upcoming Webinar will make you a key contributor in the development of a policy brief on climate communication that is a major issue of concern in our country.

The Keynote Speakers in the Webinar

This upcoming climate communication webinar has assembled a pool of experts in the industry that will be running the breakout sessions and discussions. They have made a commitment to seeing the objectives of this Webinar come to fruition. They include:

 

To Wrap Up

Would you like to be part of this change-focused event on climate communication in practice? What is your most preferred topic of discussion in this upcoming Webinar? The registration process is ongoing. To register, follow this link to fill out the registration form and book a slot in the Webinar that will be held on 10th September 2020.

Would you like to stay updated on this and other key events in the industry? Are you looking for a platform to interact with and connect with other like-minded individuals and experts in the industry around the World? Join us today and become a Member of the largest Consortium of African Researchers.

For further information on this Webinar, please contact; Dr Almaz Yohannis on Tel - +254 721 630 474 | Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Ms. Lucky Moraa on Tel - +254 713918866 | Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Author:

  • Lucky Moraa (ARC)

Contributors: