Climate and the Rest of Us

The word climate comes from the Ancient Greek klima, meaning “inclination,” a reference to how the tilt of the Earth determines sunlight and seasonal variation. Today, climate is defined by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as the average weather over a 30-year period, including patterns of temperature, rainfall, and wind. Unlike weather, which changes daily, climate reflects long-term conditions. As the saying goes: “Climate is what you expect, weather is what you get.”

Throughout history, climate has shaped civilizations. The Nile floods sustained ancient Egypt, while prolonged drought contributed to the collapse of the Mayan civilization around the 9th century CE. Similarly, the “Little Ice Age” (14th-19th centuries) brought cooler temperatures that devastated European harvests and fueled social unrest. These examples remind us that climate stability is central to human survival. 

Scientists classify climates into broad types. The Köppen Climate Classification, introduced by Wladimir Köppen in 1900 and refined ever since, remains the most widely used system. It divides the world into five major categories: tropical, dry, temperate, continental, and polar. Tropical climates, such as those of the Amazon Basin and Congo, are hot and humid, sustaining vast rainforests. Dry climates, including the Sahara and Atacama, receive little rainfall and support sparse vegetation. Temperate zones, common in Europe and North America, experience moderate seasons, while continental climates, like Siberia or Canada, face extreme temperature swings. At the poles, tundra and ice-cap climates dominate, marked by permafrost and limited life. Highland climates, found in the Himalayas or Andes, vary with altitude, producing vertical zones of vegetation. 

Earth’s climate system is influenced by both constant factors, latitude, altitude, and land-sea distribution, and dynamic ones, such as ocean currents, vegetation, and greenhouse gas concentrations. When greenhouse gases rise, more solar energy is trapped, leading to warming, as witnessed in recent centuries of industrialization. 

Ultimately, climate is more than science; it is humanity’s stage. From fertile crescent agriculture to modern food systems, from Viking voyages during medieval warm periods to today’s challenges of global warming, climate has shaped who we are and who we may become. Understanding it is not optional, it is survival. 

Blog Post Descriptions 

• Climate and the Rest of Us - Discover how climate has shaped civilizations, from ancient Egypt to today’s global warming challenge, and why understanding climate is key to Africa’s agricultural future. 

• Women in Agriculture - Explore how empowering women farmers strengthens cooperatives, boosts food security, and drives sustainable agricultural transformation across Africa. 

• Cooperative Clusters for Prosperity - Learn how cooperative clusters empower smallholder farmers, improve value chains, and unlock Africa’s potential for agricultural growth. 

• Innovations in African Farming - See how modern farming technologies, sustainable practices, and youth-led innovation are changing the future of African agriculture. 

• The Role of Farmers’ Training Institutes - Training, knowledge-sharing, and mentorship programmes that prepare Africa’s farmers to compete globally and prosper locally. 

#African food security #Agribusiness opportunities #Farmer training programs #Rural development Africa #Value chain solutions #Youth in agriculture #Women in farming #Organic farming Africa #Agro-cooperatives prosperity