Cardiff University: Cardiff-led project features in COP27 programme

A Cardiff-led project documenting the real-world impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities in the Horn of Africa Drylands (HAD) features in the official COP27 programme.

The European Union Horizon 2020-funded DOWN2EARTH project, led by Professor Michael Singer, Deputy Director of the University’s Water Research Institute, will debut two short films about water and food security in HAD at the world event.

COP27 will also see the launch of a podcast series created by the research team and its sister projects, also funded by the EU, which have been recorded in the rural communities of East Africa and focus on climate adaptation.

“This Africa-facing COP is of huge importance. Urgent action is needed to address adaptation to climate change,” said Professor Singer.

“Our DOWN2EARTH project is focused directly on impacts to people, institutions, and policy within and beyond the affected rural agricultural and pastoralist communities of HAD. That’s why we’re uniquely placed to share our work with the COP27 delegates.

“It’s an honour to be invited to the event to present our latest research on the impacts of climate change on vulnerable subsistence communities in Africa – those who had very little to do with causing climate change, but are bearing the brunt of its impacts.”

The films and podcasts will be featured within two side events at COP27, one in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Science Pavilion and one in the European Union Pavilion, that Professor Singer has co-organised with the sister projects.

“This is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the adaptation challenges for communities within Horn of Africa, who are currently facing the prospect of famine after multiple failed rainy seasons in a row,” added Professor Singer.

COP27 takes place in Sharm el Sheik between 6 and 18 November. Professor Singer’s events take place on Nov 14 (WMO Science Pavilion) and Nov 16 (EU Pavilion).