Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change

One interesting example of an effort being made in Sierra Leone to adapt to climate change is the subject of asthma in the young children of Sierra Leone, how it is being affected by climate change, and how this problem will be solved. An increase in dust and rising carbon dioxide levels which affect plant pollen are two things that are causing Sierra Leone to have a huge asthma breakout. According to the national report, is the health care system is stable and can help children control their asthma, then the people can adapt. Having asthma myself, I understand how scary it can be, especially with pollen outbreak. So having the right medical equipment such as inhalers, the children can remain comfortable in their country. Another interesting way that Sierra Leone plans on adapting to the climate change is by providing public education so that as a community, the people of Sierra Leone can work to keep it a healthy country dispite the changing climate.


The most interesting thing I read about the adaptation of Sierra Leone's changing climate is how big of a role technology has in adapting to climate change. For example, model-making can predict how the seasons will be. Some technological developments that will be represented in adapting include water harvesting systems, dam building, water conservation, drip irrigation, and drought-resistant crops. All of these technologies will make it easier for Sierra Leone and Africa as a whole to adapt to climate change.

Sierra Leone was shown as an accession to the Kyoto protocol on November 10, 2006. This means that my country did ratify the Kyoto protocol. However, to my knowledge, Sierra Leone was not required to reduce emissions. Sierra Leone simply wanted to follow the Kyoto protocol to remain a "clean" country and not have to reduce emissions later. 

Sierra Leone is making efforts in mitigating climate change and had a response to the Copenhagen Accord. Some efforts that have been made so far to mitigate climate change include increased conservation efforts, improved forest governance, developing air quality standards, developing energy sources that are better for the environment, and improved waste management. Source: http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop_15/copenhagen_accord/application/pdf/sierraleonecphaccord_app2.pdf

I think Sierra Leone is doing a great job of both mitigating and adapting to climate change. While they are developing new techniques to mitigate climate change, they are also trying to adapt to the changing climate. I believe Sierra Leone is taking all the right precautions in order to get through the changing climate in the coming years.