Representatives from the technical advisory
committees of North Bank and Lower River regions at the weekend concluded a
three-day convergence on mainstreaming climate change into development
planning.
The forum was organised by the Department of Water Resources as part of component 2 of the European Union-funded Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) project.
Buba Camara, GCCA project assistant, said the objective of the convergence was for local technicians to understand the need to communicate and filter down climate related information to the grassroots.
He said this is important in order to mainstream climate change into sectoral developments and know the steps involve in mainstreaming climate change planning.
Prof. Musa Sowe, director responsible of master’s programme on climate change education, said in order to mainstream climate change into development planning, people have to think about the environment and the consequences of climate change in whatever is being done for the interest of sustainable development.
He explained that mainstreaming climate change into development planning began with the national policy, to sectors, to regions and to the grassroots through extension workers for everybody to think about the environment in their daily dealings.
Ali Mbye, metrological assistant at the Department of Water Resources, said proper and effective translation of weather terminologies into local languages such as Mandinka, Wollof, Fula and Jola is paramount for proper mainstreaming of climate change into development agenda of local people.
Nyakass Gassama said for the local people to mainstream climate change, they must understand the terminologies into local languages.
“It is important to have knowledge and understandings of climate terminologies for the benefit of local people to better improve the understanding of local farmers through extension workers,” he said.
Lamin Marenah, senior community development assistant, commended EU for providing the strategic support in bringing people together as a family for the benefit of all and national development.
He noted that a follow up to the GCCA project is needed to further strengthen and build on the achievements registered in the project.
Modou BK Ceesay, NBR regional disaster management coordinator, said disaster and climate change is a product that is generated from environmental problems.
He said climate change leads to disaster and that is why the NDMA works with its line institutions to ensure adaptation and mitigating strategies are being put in place.
Mr Ceesay explained that climate change and disaster are interconnected especially disaster risk reduction.
As technicians, it is important to learn and understand climate change terminologies to be able to explain it into local languages so as to effectively communicate climate related issues.
