A community-based climate conference of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) organized with the objective of sharing experiences and understandings how communities can adopt to climate change kicked off in Addis Ababa today.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, Chief Environment Officer of Bhutan and conference chairperson Tenzin Wangmo said the 13rd Annual Conference on Community-Based Adaptation (CBA) is a critical component for finding solutions for protecting communities and the environment from the impacts of climate change.
She added that the conference is expected to increase the desire of member states to mobilize their respective populations to create climate resilient society by 2020.
Climate change has been affecting the lives of hundred millions of people around the world and the global eco-system has suffered a huge loss due to the change in climate.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commissioner, Fekadu Beyene said climate change needs global effort to address its adverse impacts as it is a global phenomenon that is currently imposing one of the biggest threats to the lives of the people.
“The impacts of climate change do not discriminate between the rich and the poor. However, the poor and the disadvantaged groups suffer most both in the short and long terms,” he noted.
Unless LDCs are engaged in building resilience and adapting capacity building programs, the commissioner said, adding that climate change will bring great loss to them. Hence, this requires a concerted effort by everyone.
Fekadu pointed out that experts, practitioners, government representatives, policy makers and donors participating in the four-day conference are expected to share their experiences and find resilient and sustainable solution for the adverse impact of climate change.
walta