Climate Perspectives from the Congo Basin

This book considers the global question of climate change from local perspectives in the context of Central Africa.

Bila-Isia Inogwabini examines attempts made by the international community to respond to the global challenges posed by climate change in the Congo Basin and highlights that these attempts have so far produced limited results. Abject poverty and the lack of academic, technical, institutional and governance capacities have made it difficult for these solutions to take root in local conditions. Taking a novel perspective, Inogwabini argues that what is needed is not austerity in the use of natural resources but rather increased material affluence for these communities, which will enable individuals to create their own ways to survive through the tides of climate change. He considers factors including social inertia, climate skepticism and lack of political structure and presents a climate change action plan that is targeted at the local level in the Congo Basin.

Overall, this volume will be of great interest to students and scholars of climate change, global development and African studies more broadly.

Bila-Isia Inogwabini teaches Biodiversity, Climatology and Climate Change and Ecology at several academic institutions in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He currently heads the Department of Environment and Renewable Resources Management at the School of Management of the Catholic University of Congo (Kinshasa) and has been a visiting scholar (external resource) at the department of aquatic sciences and assessment at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (Uppsala, Sweden) for a decade. He is a top-performing Conservation and Sustainable Development Manager with over 29 year-long field experience over which he led many conservation, humanitarian and sustainable development projects and programs across Central Africa (Cameroon, Congo, Central African Republic and DRC). His key areas of expertise include biological survey designs, biodiversity and ecology, freshwater and fish ecology, climate change, sustainable development, quantitative and qualitative research methods and wildlife conservation. Over these years, Inogwabini has demonstrated leadership in strategic planning, program development, program management, team leadership, and problem resolution through numerous programs he has led in the field across Central Africa. Inogwabini has published several dozens of peer-reviewed scientific papers, chapters of books and books. Inogwabini also owns and runs a third generation farm whereby agro-ecology is practiced, combining traditional farming activities with forest regeneration and dynamics research, reforestation and carbon sequestration activities in addition to providing a recreational space to people. Inogwabini holds a PhD in Biodiversity Management (The Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, The University of Kent, UK), an MSc in Conservation Biology (The Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, The University of Kent, UK), an MA in Philosophy (Leeds University, UK) and a BSc in Physics (Université Pédagogique Nationale, Kinshasa).