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International conference on groundwater and climate in Africa

13 August 2008

Links:

water gwclim.org/" target="_self">Groundwater & Climate in Africa Conference
  • Dr Taylor
  • UCL Global: Africa and the Middle East
  • Dr Richard Taylor (UCL Geography) recently organised the first-ever conference to discuss the role of groundwater in improving livelihoods in Africa under conditions of rapid development and climate change.

    Groundwater & Climate in Africa - held in June 2008 and organised in collaboration with colleagues from the Ugandan Ministry of Water & Environment and UNESCO's International Hydrological Programme - was one of the first conferences in the world to discuss the twin impacts of development and climate variability and change on groundwater resources and groundwater-based ecosystems.

    Dr Taylor, who was co-chair of the conference's international organising committee and chair of its scientific steering committee, said: "Groundwater is the daily source of drinking water for more than half a billion people across Africa. Preferential warming in Africa as a result of climate change is predicted to increase the variability of rainfall, flow of rivers and levels of lakes, reducing their reliability as sources of freshwater.

    "Climate change, rapid population growth and economic development over the 21st century are expected to increase dramatically African reliance upon groundwater in order to improve critically limited access to safe water, to sustain food security and to promote agricultural and industrial development. The impact of climate variability and change on groundwater resources remains, however, one of the most persistent knowledge gaps identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in both its 3rd (2001) and 4th (2007) Assessment Reports."

    The conference was held in Kampala, Uganda, and brought together more than 300 water scientists, managers and policymakers, including parliamentarians, from 23 countries in Africa and 14 non-African countries.

    The conference featured 96 presentations that contributed to six strategic themes that included: the impacts of climate variability and change on groundwater-based livelihoods and groundwater-fed ecosystems; monitoring and modelling of groundwater replenishment and use; estimation of groundwater resources and demand; and groundwater management in arid, semi-arid and humid environments under a changing climate.

    water in Africa

    With more than 20 hours of dedicated discussion time culminating in two roundtable discussions, participants were able to translate scientific and policy-related research findings into concrete technical and policy recommendations. These were summarised in the 'Kampala Statement', for national governments in Africa, regional, basin-wide and transboundary organisations, as well as international fora including the 5th World Water Forum and Copenhagen Climate Summit in 2009.

    To find out more about the conference, including a five-minute film, or Dr Taylor or UCL and Africa, please use the links at the top of this article.

    UCL and global health

    UCL and 'The Lancet' have launched a joint Commission to study and report on the human health effects of climate change - an area often overlooked in the climate-change debate. The Lancet-UCL Commission is reviewing the likely health impacts of climate change on human societies, and documenting ways to reverse those impacts.

    Find out more about the UCL Institute for Global Health, the hub bringing together UCL's immense multidisciplinary wealth of intellectual capital and international collaborations to provide innovative, workable solutions to global health at scale. Global health is one of the UCL Grand Challenges, rallying our accomplishment, expertise and commitment.