Africa Environment WikiFocus launched on 3rd March on Wangari Maathai Day. The global drive concentrates the attention of Wikipedians and climate experts on improving and adding citable researched content to Wikipedia to improve the coverage and understanding of climate, the environment, and the threats facing the continent and its people from climate change.
The Afrobarometer report (2019) found that only 28% of Africans (in 34 countries surveyed) were aware of climate change as a concept. This worrying lack of knowledge is partly due to a pervasive lack of visibility of relevant information about Climate, Weather, and Climate Change, especially from the media, across Africa. Wikipedia is one of the few media platforms that people across Africa can access for free.
Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Africa is responsible for only around 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Still, it will be disproportionately affected by climate change. Climate change will significantly impact Africa, reports the United Nations. Expected impacts include increased frequency and severity of droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events that can damage crops and infrastructure and cause food shortages. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has released estimates that climate change could reduce crop yields in Africa by up to 30% by 2050.
The Africa Environment WikiFocus will incorporate up-to-date factual data and research, some supplied explicitly by the African Union and organisations active in the climate and environmental sector. It will also raise awareness of these challenges by improving the coverage of climate and environment-related topics on Wikipedia. The initiative brings together climate experts, environmental organisations, and Wikipedians to create high-quality, well-researched articles that are freely accessible to a broad audience.
Seventeen volunteer Wikimedia communities across Anglophone and Francophone Africa will host in-person editing events in March and April. Additional online training sessions (watch this one on YouTube) will share the knowledge required to add content to Wikipedia.
Africa's Wikimedia communities have provided other ways to participate through focused alignment with several existing Wiki In Africa initiatives. The live monthly Wiki Africa Hour was the platform for the launch event. Watch the launch on YouTube. The Wiki Loves Women annual Tell Us About Her image description drive concentrates on images of Women on the Frontline of Climate.
This year, Africa's most substantial annual photo contest, Wiki Loves Africa, calls for the entry of images, video, audio, diagrams, and photo essays that depict Climate & Weather. The intentional alignment by Wiki in Africa between the two projects - Wiki Loves Africa and the Africa Environment WikiFocus – has seen the addition of two prizes to the Wiki Loves Africa prize categories. The Africa Environment WikiFocus has sponsored two Wiki Loves Africa media categories for the best representation of the impact of climate change: the best video and the best photo essay.
The WikiFocus is a project created and developed by Wiki In Africa (WIA) and Wikimedia Community User Group Côte d’Ivoire (WMUG IC) as an integral part of the African Knowledge Initiative (AKI) series of campaigns.
The African Knowledge Initiative is supported by the African Union, Wikimedia Foundation, and Africa No Filter. The Africa Environment WikiFocus is a content creation and contribution WikiFocus that launched on the African Union’s Wangari Maathai Day (3rd of March).
How to participate
There are many ways to do your part and get involved:
1. Watch the WikiAfrica Hour launch to hear from Africa’s experts in climate and environment
2. Learn how to contribute content about Environment and Climate to Wikipedia:
Attend a local event – find out what events are happening near you
Attend the online training sessions held by Wikipedia experts – watch this page for details
3. Add factual content about the Environment and Climate to the Wikimedia projects:
Find out how to contribute as an individual.
Learn how to contribute to Wikipedia, WikiData, Wikiquote, and other sister projects: access our How To page.
Create or improve a Wikipedia article about climate: get started using our article list.
Translate a Wikipedia article on Climate and Environment into your language.
Create and collaborate on a Climate WikiProject in your language: access our How To page.
Add the climate-related statistics and data to WikiData: access our resources page.
You can approach local climate or environment academic or activist organisations to partner with the project and add their data or validate local data: find out how to be a partner here.
4. Enter your incredible photos, video, or photo essay that capture climate or weather to Wiki Loves Africa.
5. Add descriptions to images of Women on the Frontline of Climate on Wikimedia Commons to make the photos more useful on Wikipedia.
6. Be social – let others know about your contributions to the Africa Environment WikiFocus on social media using #WikiAfrica #AfricaEnvironmentWikiFocus, and tag @WikiAfrica in your posts.
Africa Environment Facts
Statistics on the environment and climate change in Africa:
According to the World Bank, Africa has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per capita of any continent, but it is also the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
The African continent is responsible for only around 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, but it is disproportionately affected by climate change.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that Africa will experience more frequent and intense heatwaves, droughts, and floods due to climate change.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates that climate change could reduce crop yields in Africa by up to 30% by 2050.
According to the African Wildlife Foundation, Africa has lost around 50% of its wildlife in the last 40 years.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that Africa could create 1.5 million new jobs in renewable energy by 2030.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that deforestation and land degradation in Africa are responsible for around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In 24 African countries, less than 50% of their population has no access to electricity. source
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