England (Commonwealth Union) – Skepticism of COP (Conference of the Parties) 27 has been intensifying from both prominent environmental activists and critics of the event who feel climate change advocates are pushing extreme policies which are likely to cause economic hardship.
In spite of these polarizing issues, there are many factors individuals on either side of the spectrum agree on, such as the need to cut down on plastic pollutants also, and address disappearing habitats for endangered species. The issues of drought have drawn various responses by individuals on both sides of the debate as to the possible causes.
The DOWN2EARTH project, which is a project led by Professor Michael Singer, Deputy Director of the University of Cardiff’s Water Research Institute, displayed two short films about water and food security in the Horn of Africa Drylands (HAD) at COP27, which also included a podcast series produced by the researchers together with its sister projects funded by the European Union. This was recorded in the rural populations of East Africa drawing attention to climate adaptation.
“This Africa-facing COP is of huge importance. Urgent action is needed to address adaptation to climate change,” said Professor Singer. “Our DOWN2EARTH project is focused directly on impacts to people, institutions, and policy within and beyond the affected rural agricultural and pastoralist communities of HAD. That’s why we’re uniquely placed to share our work with the COP27 delegates,” he said.
The films and podcasts were presented within two side events at COP27, with one at the World Meteorological Organization, Science Pavilion and the other at the European Union Pavilion, co-organized by Professor Singer and the other sister projects. Professor Singer further indicated that it was an excellent chance to draw attention on the adaptation issues for communities within Horn of Africa, where communities are faced with the possibility of famine with many seasons of no rain.
