African countries still experience constraints to their climate change adaptation efforts due to difficulties in accessing information, even though the institutional conditions have improved significantly lately, writes Dr Richard Munang, UNEP's Africal regional climate change coordinator on the pages of The Guardian.
"Access to relevant and up to date technical information is a better base for efficient and targeted policies. More information strengthens institutions, which in turn make the policies, laws and regulations better fitted to prepare for future challenges," he adds.
Dr Munang concludes that "Addressing climate change needs an approach where concrete experiences and strategic thinking in navigating the issues becomes the core of decision making. Harnessing and aggregating knowledge for adaptation could therefore be a crucial key to unleashing the adaptation potential for Africa."