Research reveals that some indigenous languages lack terminology to describe and understand climate change (Kenya)

Earlier this year research by the BBC World Service Trust revealed just how poorly understood the concept of climate change is in many African countries, through a project called Africa Talks Climate.

It is partly a question of cultural or religious outlook, but in many cases it is also question of vocabulary. Many indigenous languages simply do not have the equivalent words or concepts to adequately translate the scientific message of climate change.

As a result, people tend to view year-on-year warming or unpredictable rains as a localised effect rather than a global phenomenon. But the now over-familiar truth is that those nations least responsible for climate change are set to suffer most from it – and Africa and its people will need to adapt.

In this programme, Josphat Makori reports from Kenya where research has revealed just how far the urban population has to go before it truly understands the scale of the problem that is facing it.