Africa is the continent that will be hit hardest by climate change. Unpredictable rains and floods, prolonged droughts, subsequent crop failures and rapid desertification, among other signs of global warming, have in fact already begun to change the face of Africa. The continent's poor and vulnerable will be particularly hit by the effects of rising temperatures - and in some parts of the continent, temperatures have been rising twice as fast as in the rest of the world. In wealthy countries, the looming climate crisis is a matter of concern, as it will affect both the wellbeing of economies and people's lives. In Africa, however, a region that has hardly contributed to climate change - its greenhouse gas emissions are negligible when compared with the industrialised world's - it will be a matter of life and death.



Therefore, Africa must not remain silent in the face of the realities of climate change and its causes. African leaders and civil society must be involved in global decision-making about how to address the climate crisis in ways that are both effective and equitable. For this reason, when the G-8 heads of state met in early June in Heiligendamm in Germany, I sent them an appeal urging the industrialised countries to lead by example, since it is they who are largely responsible for climate change. Therefore, they must take the most decisive steps to combat it.



As major polluters, the industrialised countries also have a responsibility to assist Africa to reduce its vulnerability and increase its capacity to adapt to climate change. The industrialised countries need to put in place mechanisms that raise steady and reliable funds for the prime victims of the climate crisis in Africa and other developing regions. We know a strong linkage exists between the environment, governance and peace. It is essential that we expand our definition of peace and security to include responsible and accountable management of the limited resources on Earth, as well as a more equitable distribution of those resources. Climate change makes the need for this redefinition even more urgent.



For humankind to manage and share resources in a just and equitable way, governance systems must be more responsive and inclusive. People have to feel that they belong, and the voice of the minority must be listened to, even if the majority has its way. We need systems of governance that respect human rights and the rule of law and that deliberately promote equity. Many of the conflicts and wars in the world are fought over access to and control and distribution of resources like water, fuels, grazing ground, minerals, and land. We need only to look to Darfur. In recent decades, the desert in western Sudan expanded because of droughts and erratic rainfall that can be attributed in part to climate change. As a result, farmers and herders have clashed over scarce arable land and water, and unscrupulous leaders have used these conflicts to stir up mass violence. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and even more displaced amid campaigns of intimidation, rape, and abduction.



By managing resources better, by recognising the links between sustainable management of limited resources and conflicts, we are more likely to pre-empt the root causes of civil strife and wars, and therefore create a more peaceful and secure world. But the environment degrades slowly and may not be noticed by the majority of people. If they are poor, selfish, or greedy they will be more concerned about survival or satisfying their immediate needs and wishes than worrying about the consequences of their actions. Unfortunately, the generation that destroys the environment may not be the one that pays the price. It is the future generations that will confront the consequences of the destructive activities of the current generation.



The climate crisis calls for visionary political will on the part of governments, and social responsibility by the corporate world. We have a responsibility to protect the rights of generations, of all species, that cannot speak for themselves today. The global challenge of climate change requires that we ask no less of our leaders, or ourselves.

By Wangari Maathai,
Wangari Maathai is a Nobel Peace Prize winner, is a Member of Parliament in Kenya