Africa’s efforts to tackle climate change receive 92 million boost

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Japan Friday announced a new $92 million initiative to help Africa adapt to global warming, according to a statement of the United Nations.

"Climate change is one of the most critical issues that governments and citizens around the world need to address," said Olav Kjorven, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of Bureau for Development Policy.

The programme, announced today during the high-level Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), will be launched in August.

The initiative of the UNDP and Japan seeks to help governments revise their current anti-poverty strategies to come into line with climate change's potential effects on development.

"As a result of climate change, many African countries will experience increased water scarcity and worsened health and food security," Mr. Kjorven said, stressing that global warming threatens economic and social progress.

"Unless we act now, climate change may threaten everything we will attempt to achieve in the future," he added.

Of the $92 million, $11 million will be allocated to projects in collaboration with the UN Children's Fund UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Industrial Development Organization UNIDO.

The UN and Japan have joined forces in the past on successful projects, in countries such as Afghanistan and Sudan and in the areas affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.