LDC universities build alliance to stop dependence on western climate experts

University representatives from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) said they needed to build their own research capacity and stop the dependence on climate experts from developed western countries. The representatives from Bhutan, Nepal, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Bangladesh were speaking during the fourth annual Gobeshona conference on Wednesday at Independent University Bangladesh (IUB). Bangladesh is seeking to build its academic capacity in order to tackle the impact of climate change and share that knowledge with other LDCs. Senior Lecturer at Royal University of Bhutan’s Forestry Department Om Katel at the programme said: “Climate Change is a global problem that needs collective collaboration to address and tackle.” According to sources universities from 10 LDCs—Bangladesh, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Gambia, Mozambique, Nepal, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda have launched a project called, “Least Developed Countries University Consortium on Climate Change” (LUCCC) last year. “LUCCC aims to capacitate all 47 LDCs to become able to adapt effectively to the adverse impacts of climate change and will break the tradition of dependence on experts and researchers from the developed countries,” said Prof Dr Mizan R Khan, the director of External Affairs at North South University and a teacher of Environmental Science and Management at the university. “It intends to achieve this goal by developing a South-South and South-South-North knowledge sharing and capacity development programme on adaptation to climate change in universities and training institutes in all the 47 LDCs,” Prof Dr Mizan added. Currently there are 47 LDCs with the lowest human development index in the world which are severely impacted by different kinds of climate related natural calamities including cyclones, floods, storm surges and droughts. Ajay B Mathema, an associate professor at School of Environmental Science and Management in Pokhara University, Nepal at the conference said: “Knowledge is not a static, it circular as it moves from place to place. I think the LCCC would foster the transmission of climate related knowledge among the LDCs.” Dr Noah Makula Pauline from Tanzania’s University of Dar Es Salam and Zewdu Eshetu from Addis Ababa University of Ethiopia spoke and presented their papers in the session with International Center for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) Director Dr Saleemul Huq in the chair.