African negotiators attending the United Nations climate change talks in Doha, which ended last week, were optimistic the Kyoto Protocol would survive, despite faltering commitment by developed economies.

Christabel Ligami spoke to a climate change expert from Australia, Ray Willson, who was in Kenya on an official visit, about his views on climate change in East Africa.

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Africa is especially vulnerable to climate change. What impacts can we already see taking place?

The impacts of climate change are already being felt now and, on our present course, they are certain to intensify.

African countries will need to take up adaptive measures. In East Africa, including the Horn of Africa, and parts of Central Africa, the average rainfall has been increasing, leading to flooding, while high temperatures have led to prolonged droughts in the region. This is adversely affecting crop production, especially of maize and wheat, and in the long run food supply could be imperilled.

Soon, vector borne diseases such as malaria and dengue may spread and become more severe.

What sector in East Africa is likely to be most affected by climate change?

Agriculture will be most affected. This is because climate change largely affects crop cultivation and production.

Agricultural scientists in the region should focus on finding new crops that can adapt to these changing times, while farmers should consider diversifying their crops. Genetically modified crops and irrigation crops are some of the options available.

What measures should governments focus on when tackling climate change?

The region’s governments must reduce carbon emissions especially from the transport sector. There is also a need to transition to low carbon/ non-carbon emitting vehicles.

Governments should also start investing in alternative energy sources like solar, wind and water. These are not only cheap but are also good for increasing food security and reducing poverty. Climate change adaptation programmes and policies should also be drafted and adopted.

The global commitment to tackle climate change is in doubt, given that the US has not signed the Kyoto protocol. What are climate advocates like yourself doing to deal with climate change scepticism?

The main reason for the scepticism is political. The political dynamics of a country can heavily influence decisions to do with global climate.

The best thing would be for nations to settle on targets, which they then write into their national laws, rather than a binding international deal.

Individual citizens, civil society, cities and nations should be more focused on measures to combat climate change.

With the Kyoto Protocol expiring at the end of the year, what do you see as the way forward?

We now need to push for the establishment of a transitional regime that will be political in nature, but that could evolve over time into a legally binding regime for governments.

It has been noted that Asian and Latin American countries are the biggest beneficiaries of carbon credit. How can Africa also benefit from this initiative?

African countries need to be more organised and aggressive in developing carbon credit projects. These projects will attract carbon credit and funding from donors.

What steps should East Africa take as a bloc on climate change since theirs are agriculture dependent economies? How should this be integrated into agricultural policies?

Alliances between carbon and agricultural agencies; universities across the region should be initiated and encouraged to work on joint research projects on climate change.

Green energy is expensive but is being recommended as one of the measures of dealing with climate change. What can developing countries like those in East Africa do since they don’t have adequate capital/ capacity?

Going forward, solar, biomass resources and wind energy will be better alternative sources of energy.

Since 2011, the price of solar energy has come down by about 80 per cent. East African governments should work to make solar energy more affordable for their people.