Afia Agyeman Amponsah-Mensah is a lawyer and lecturer at the Ashesi Law Faculty. She has an LLB and LLM from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Before joining Ashesi, Ms. Amponsah-Mensah lectured at the UPSA Law School, where she taught Energy Law, Law and Accountable Institutions, Contract and Company law. She brings a wealth of experience from working in various sectors, including journalism, insurance, and the law. Her research interests are Oil and Gas Law, Energy Transition & Climate Change, Constitutional Law, Democratic Governance, and Financial Regulation.
Climate change has become a very essential topic not only in environmental discussions but also a major factor in geopolitics. The hotter temperatures and the erratic rainfall and storms we have been experiencing in recent years are but a few of the effects of climate change. Climate change clearly affects us all and must be addressed. For all the elegant language and goals of an international treaty, there will be very little success in achieving its aims if parties do not ‘bring the law home’ and thus put in place measures to give effect to the umbrella goal of fighting climate change. Adaptation to climate change includes all adjustments in behaviour or economic structure that reduce the vulnerability of society to changes in the climate system
While governments draft and sign international instruments, it is evident that recent developments suggest the international order is now a transnational legal order that recognizes a wider set of actors, beyond governments, as essential for implementation and achieving treaty goals.
For instance, the United Nations Convention on Desertification stresses the importance of pastoral groups for combating desertification. Thus international Climate Change law can benefit from express and implicit embrace of the family to be successful.
Climate change
The United Nations has defined climate change as “long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns”[1]. The shifts have been known to be natural, however, in the last two centuries, human activities have contributed massively to climate change. This is primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas which produce greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures. Carbon dioxide and methane are two types of greenhouse gases that are released from using petrol or diesel in cars or coal for heating a building, for example.
Effects of Climate Change
The potential effects of global climate change include more frequent wildfires, longer periods of drought in some regions, and an increase in the duration and intensity of tropical storms. Some of the countries that have suffered from these effects are usually third-world countries. An example is Bangladesh, which has been battling the effects of climate change for years. With 75% of Bangladesh technically underwater, it’s estimated to lose 11% of its land by 2050 due to rising sea levels.[2] This could result in one out of every seven people in Bangladesh being displaced from their homes. Notre Dame’s Global Adaptation Initiative index[3], has categorised Chad as the fourth most-vulnerable country to climate change and the second least-prepared country for its effects.[4] Over the last 50 years, increasing temperatures, droughts, and use have caused 90% of the country’s largest lake—Lake Chad—to disappear, rendering it a dustbowl.[5] These are two different countries, both third-world, suffering from the extremities of climate change.
Climate Change in Africa
Climate change poses a significant threat to Africa’s achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The continent is the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change (with 9 African countries making it onto the unenviable list of the 10 countries most affected by climate change) despite its low contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. This is quite evident as Africa faces exponential collateral damage, posing systemic risks to its economies, infrastructure investments, water and food systems, public health, agriculture, and livelihoods, threatening to undo its modest development gains and slip into higher levels of extreme poverty. These effects trickle all the way down from the national government to the small family in the hinterlands.
On the global stage, African countries and other developing countries that are party to the UNFCCC[6] (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and subsequent protocols have always pressed the need for funding to meet their obligations and to tackle the consequences of environmental damage.
The Role of the Family
It is imperative that one consider the family unit, the starting block of a society. Families, both traditional and modern, play a pivotal role in preventing climate change, serving as essential drivers of environmental responsibility through practical actions, advocacy, and leveraging international frameworks. These two African family settings are marked features of an African society.
The traditional African family is likely to be affected the most by the effects of climate change. One way the African family can mitigate the effects of this canker is through the conservation of water. African families are rationing water in a bid to reduce water use per person. Reusing the water also helps in conservation. The water used in washing clothes or utensils could be reused to irrigate gardens. The concern is that the practice is often abandoned due to the promise of rain. However, this practice should be a lifestyle, not just harnessed during the season of lean cows, but also when there is an abundance of rain. Another practice being revived is rainwater harvesting, a process that conserves water by collecting and storing rainwater that runs off rooftops in large barrels for later use. The popularity of this practice has dwindled with the installation of boreholes, but with these mechanised wells drying up, there seems to be a return to rainwater harvesting. However, with the current climate and irregularity of rainfall, families may appear to be stuck between a rock and a hard place. It is suggested that a balance of both practices will be an immense boost for families combating climate change.
Families can engage in gardening and reforestation efforts to combat climate change directly. By planting trees and creating community gardens, families contribute to biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration, helping mitigate climate impacts at a grassroots level. These local actions are crucial in fulfilling international environmental goals, such as those outlined in the Paris Agreement, which emphasize the need for reforestation and the protection of natural habitats. Agroforestry is one of the low-cost practices of implementing many forms of integrated land management. Basically, we can plant trees and shrubs together with crops to derive the most efficient use of the land. The aim of this practice is to reduce human impact on the land.
One of the primary roles families can assume is in education and awareness. By educating themselves and their children about climate change, families contribute to raising a generation that is better equipped to tackle environmental challenges. This can transition into advocacy and community engagement. The case of The Social and Economic Rights Action Centre et al. v Nigeria highlights the impact of environmental degradation on family life, demonstrating that families have a right to a healthy environment under Articles 16 and 18 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. This legal precedent underscores the importance of awareness in protecting environmental rights and ensuring family well-being.
In addition to education, families can adopt sustainable consumption practices that reduce their environmental footprint. Everyday household decisions such as reducing waste, conserving energy, and purchasing environmentally friendly products support global efforts to combat climate change, in line with the Paris Agreement’s objectives to lower emissions. Families can also significantly impact the environment through their dietary choices. Shifting toward plant-based diets and supporting sustainable agriculture are effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This aligns with international frameworks such as the SDGs, which advocate for sustainable food systems.
Transportation choices are another critical area where families can make a significant impact. Opting for sustainable methods of transportation, such as walking, biking, or using public transit, helps reduce carbon emissions. This may be seen as a drop in the bucket, but it will gradually have a lasting impact on the environment. The current status of public transportation in Ghana, for example, may make it difficult to switch from private vehicles. There have been some advances with the introduction of Metro Mass Transit buses (known then as “Kufuor buses” because they were commissioned by Former President Kufuor) and the Bus Rapid Transit System, known as “ayalolo” buses. However, the poor maintenance culture has resulted in most of these buses being broken down beyond repair and abandoned. An improved maintenance culture, the efficient management of public transportation, and a wider train network will serve as an incentive for families to opt for public transit routes to reduce their carbon footprint.
Conclusion
Climate change is indeed a dicey topic of great importance and has been discussed at both national and international levels. However, the impact is felt by the states, the region, the community, and the family, and it is imperative that all stakeholders, including the family- the nucleus of the society- take steps to contribute towards the campaign against climate change.
