Cheney Public Lecture - From Extreme Weather to Climate Change in Africa

Dr Benjamin Lamptey, Cheney Fellow and Co-Investigator: GCRF African-SWIFT will deliver a lecture inquiring how the present-day weather is viewed vis-à-vis climate change.

About the lecture: Climate Change in Africa is a big threat to the people, the environment and the economy. Most of the disasters are hydrometeorological in origin and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has projected an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme events over the continent. While global climate is changing due to greenhouse gas increases, mostly emitted from countries outside Africa, it has been argued since the 1970s that human activities on the land surface in Africa also cause shifts in the climate. It can be hard to imagine how Africa will cope with an increase in the intensity of storms, droughts and heatwaves, when the effects of present-day weather extremes can be so devastating. Is the contribution of land-use change to climate change in Africa important to these changes? The presentation will inquire how the present-day weather is viewed vis-à-vis climate change.

The lecture will be offered by Dr Benjamin Lamptey, Leeds Chenney Fellow. The lecture will be followed by a 30-minute panel discussion:

• Dr Rosalind West, DFID Climate Science Lead
• Prof Andy Dougill, Professor of Environmental Sustainability
• Dr John Marsham, Water@Leeds Research Fellow
• Dr Ben Lamptey, Cheney Fellow

Drink reception will be provided.

The event is free but you need to book your place in advance.