Editorial
In this issue, we feature a series of articles from the IPCC workshop “Integrated Assessment of Climate Change in Africa” which was held in Kadoma, Zimbabwe, in November 1998.
Marcel Kok begins the series with an outline of the Action Plan resulting from the meeting and summarizes three areas for priority action as far as integrated assessment in Africa is concerned. Stewart Cohen discusses the participatory process necessary for effective integrated assessment at the regional level, employing a scientist-stakeholder collaborative as an example of an integrating approach to establish a fully effective regional learning and sharing platform. Ferenc Toth describes a number of tools and techniques for integrated assessment to assist in conducting policy-relevant climate change impact assessments. Finally, Peter Zhou considers the requirement that integrated assessments should be directly relevant to development plans and priorities for sustainable development in Africa.
Than Aung describes the results of a major project concerned with sea level monitoring in the Pacific region and various educational materials and curriculum modules that have been developed during the course of this work. The educational packages have been created in response to the recognition of the need to provide local communities with relevant information so as to further involve them in coastal area management.
Griffin Thompson and Lando Velasco summarize the activities of the International Institute for Energy Conservation, concentrating on sustainable energy strategies in developing countries that are not only economically beneficial but which also mitigate climate change.
Finally, Lavanya Rajamani analyses the outcome of the Fifth Conference of the Parties to the climate treaty held in late 1999.