Governance and leadership response to climate change

Abstract

Good governance is a critical element required for effective and sustained peace and security, economic growth and human development. As African States make strenuous efforts to meet the developmental goals enshrined in the internationally-agreed Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it is becoming increasingly apparent that without improved governance such goals cannot be attained. Managing climate change is also a governance issue. Africa is now facing a significant undertaking on climate-change adaptation amidst great adversity, instability and economic challenges. Governments are tasked with the responsibility of designing and implementing effective policies of mitigation and adaptation to climate change. This requires organizational and institutional capacities as well as coherent actions built on accountable, transparent and participatory systems of governance.