Adapting to climate variability and change: the Climate Outlook Forum process.

Abstract

Weather and climate extremes are associated with loss of life, destruction of property and many other socio - economic miseries worldwide. They threaten livelihoods and the very survival of humankind. The vulnerability of societies seems to be increasing year after year in many developing countries, especially in Africa. The recent Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) confirms that human activities are changing climate by injecting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (IPCC, 2007). Coping with the negative impacts of the current climate extremes and adaptation to future climate changes are therefore some of the greatest challenges facing humankind today.