Local stories in Mozambique

Dr Izidine Pinto, University of Cape Town – Author for Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis, @izpinto @uct.ac.za – Facebook, @UCT_news – Twitter, @University-of-cape-town – Linkedin, UCTSouthAfrica – Youtube

“I spoke with final year university students at Eduardo Mondlane University in my home town of Quelimane, Mozambique in early March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic was spreading across the world. 

It was great to return to the place I grew up, and I really enjoyed the experience of talking about science in Portuguese for a change, given that I learned about climate science in English. 

I gave a seminar on the climate system and climate change, from the global impacts down to the local, and presented a case study from the region. I used local stories, such as how climate change is affecting Quirimbas National Park and the Primeiras and Segundas Archipelago, which are nearby places that the students are familiar with. I explained how climate extremes have changed over time, and might change more dramatically if adaptation and mitigation strategies are not implemented. 

By using local stories, I was able to make the problems resonate with them as they hit close to home for the students. They felt inclined to share their personal experiences of weather and climate and ask more questions about their city. This led to an especially fruitful discussion on the context and consequences of the recent deadly tropical cyclone Idai that affected Mozambique.

People take refuge on the stand of a sports ground, following flooding caused by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique. Photo credit: World Vision

I also talked about the impact of the COVID-19 virus on air quality due to the halt of industries and transportations networks. This was to make climate change more current and to demonstrate how even short-term reductions in the use of fossil fuels can improve air quality. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with students at Eduardo Mondlane University, and I hope I have created relevant awareness and interest, and managed to fuel an ongoing discussion on climate change in their region and beyond.”