RECC-LUM
Feasibility Study on Climate Change, Land Use Management, and Renewable Energy in the Gambia
The African continent is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, making it essential to develop strategies that are context-specific. With the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters (e.g., droughts, floods), there is a pressing need to integrate disaster risk reduction strategies into land use planning and climate resilience efforts.
It is against this Background that the "African Symposium on Climate Change, Land Use, and Disasters Management" is being organised. The symposium will facilitate discussions that reflect the unique climatic and socio-economic conditions of various African regions. It will serve as a critical platform to address the interconnected challenges faced by the continent in terms of climate variability, land use changes, and disaster risks.
The symposium will also provide an avenue for influencing policy at local, national, and regional levels, ensuring that climate adaptation and sustainable land use policies are informed by scientific evidence
and local realities. It is organised as part of the Project "Feasibility Study on Climate Change, Land Use Management, and Renewable Energy in The Gambia" (RECC-LUM), funded by the German Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBF) https://www.recclum.wascal.org/.
Overall, the event will play a key role in promoting a dialogue, research, and practical solutions to enhance environmental sustainability and resilience in Africa in the face of climate change.
Objectives
The symposium will bring together experts, policy-makers, scientists, practitioners, and other stakeholders to discuss the interplay between climate change, land use practices, and disaster Management in Africa, focusing on innovative strategies and collaborative solutions to enhance resilience in communities.
Target audience
The event will be of interest to:
a) scholars,
b) policy-makers,
c) members of international organisations
d members of NGOs and
e) practitioners
interested to share research findings, best practices, and innovative solutions related to climate Change, disasters Management, and land use Management in Africa.
Themes
The Symposium will tackle a variety of themes, such as:
a) Climate Change Impacts
Understanding the latest research on climate change effects on
ecosystems and communities.
Case studies of vulnerable regions and populations in Africa.
b) Land Use Planning and Sustainability
Best practices in sustainable land management and urban planning.
The role of land use policies in mitigating climate risks.
c) Disaster Preparedness and Response
Strategies for enhancing disaster readiness in the face of climate
variability.
d) Integrating climate data into disaster management frameworks.
Community Engagement and Inclusive Policies
Empowering local communities in land use and disaster management decisions.
Ensuring equitable access to resources and information.
e) Technological Innovations and Tools
Utilising technology for monitoring and managing land use and disaster response.
Innovations in data collection and analysis to inform policy making.
f) Collaboration and Cross-Sector Partnerships
Building alliances between government, private sector, and NGOs for effective action.
Lessons learned from successful collaborative projects.
Format
- Plenary presentations and discussions: key speakers from academia, industry, and governmental sectors to provide a multi-perspective view on the challenges and solutions associated with land use, disasters
management and climate change in Africa.
- Parallel sessions: presentations on innovative initiatives, projects
and Research Programmes.
This Symposium will provide a valuable platform for stakeholders to converge, exchange ideas, and pave the way for new initiatives in the field of land use, disasters management and climate change in Africa.
How to participate and deadlines to follow
Colleagues interested to contribute to the event should send an abstract of 200 words, including the title of the contribution and the full contact details of the authors, to: info (at) iccip (dot) net.
The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 20th December 2024. Full papers are due by 10th March 2025. Please note that the deadline for the submission of abstracts is not the date they are due. Rather, this is the last possible date. Therefore, in order to avoid possible disappointments, colleagues are kindly requested to consider sending their abstracts as soon as possible.
Expected outcomes and publishing opportunity
The Symposium is expected to support efforts towards further policy improvements and practical frameworks for implementation. It will also serve the purpose of fostering networking and collaborative efforts among the participants, leading to a further mobilisation of resources for further climate change related initiatives. The experiences from the participants will be documented and promoted in the book "Climate Change, Land Use and Disasters Management: Integrating Strategies for Climate Resilience, Land Use and Disaster Management in Africa". This will be published by Springer Nature, as part of the Climate Change Management Series. With over 50 books published to date, the peer-reviewed nature of the books means that the papers officially count for promotion and tenure purposes.
How to Register
Registrations are now open and will close on 10th February 2025. Delegates whose abstracts have been selected will be sent the details on how to register. There are no registration fees.
Contact details
All questions related to scientific inputs, publication, and strategic partnerships should be sent to Marina Kovaleva at:
marina.kovaleva@haw-hamburg.de.
About the organisers
The Symposium is organised by:
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Research and Transfer Centre "Sustainable Development and Climate Change Managament", Germany University of the Gambia, The Gambia WASCAL Competence Centre, Burkina Faso
Project Team
Prof. Walter Leal, HAW Hamburg
Dr. Marina Kovaleva, HAW Hamburg
Prof. Sidat Yaffa, University of The Gambia
Prof. Kehinde Ogunjobi, WASCAL Competence Centre
any others?
