Climate change and adaptation in african agriculture 4 local climate change adaptation platforms have been proposed by a number of development agencies, as a means of promoting collaboration between scientists and practitioners, and enhancing local adaptation capacity including the ability to draw on climate data. Scientists, economists, and policy makers all agree the world is facing threat from climate warming. Africa has done little to cause global warming its greenhouse gas emissions are only 4% of the worlds total. The impact of climate change on africa is likely to be severe because of adverse direct effects, high agricultural dependence, and limited capacity to adapt. The intergovernmental panel on climate change ipcc is active socially choose your network. Solutions for a changing climate this brochure highlights afdbs response to climate change in africa by illustrating successful programs and projects managed by the bank together with development partners in key economic sectors including energy, transport, water and sanitation, agriculture and health.
Africa, though the continent the least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions,4 is almost universally seen as the continent most at risk of climateinduced conflicta. Globally, the response to climate change is gradually gaining momentum as the impacts of climate change unfold. Even mitigating climate change could be a benefit for africa. Since the 2006 saeo, local and global research has advanced its understanding of the projected impacts of climate change. Climate warming is caused by excess greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide which are heat trapping gasses. Links between climate change, conflict and governance in. Wires climate change climate change impacts in south africa box 1 long term adaptation scenarios ltas project south africas 2011 national policy position on climate change emphasizes that socioeconomic risks resulting from a range of emission scenar. Here we present an overview of the impacts of climate change projected for the subsaharan region of the continent. As this paper illustrates, climate change in africa is not only a conservation problem but is a socioeconomic issue that must be dealt with at a global scale. Pdf climate change in africa, by camilla toulmin jamie. Climate change impacts in subsaharan africa climate analytics. Least developed countries in africa are among the most vulnerable to climate change, yet the least able to adapt. In past analyses of effects of climate change on the south african ecosystems e. Pdf the impact of climate change on africa is likely to be severe because of adverse direct effects, high agricultural dependence, and limited.
The first step taken by most african countries was to participate in international climate negotiations and to make their voices heard against polluting countries. Climate resilience is a key component of any healthy system, particularly in vulnerable countries that depend heavily on climate sensitive natural resources and traditional agricultural practices for subsistence and livelihoods. Climate change and adaptation in african agriculture. This brochure is a product of the afdbs climate change coordination.
Research on the impact of climate change on the dynamics of malaria is still ongoing 26. The opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the centre for international governance innovation or its board of directors andor. The average global surface temperature has warmed 0. A new survey suggests they are also the least prepared. How could climate change impact food security in africa. Climate change, land degradation and desertification are expected to affect african countries. Solutions for a changing climate african development bank. Keywords climate change impacts vulnerability subsaharan africa introduction africa has been identi. Climate change refers to significant, longterm changes in the global climate. West africa has been identified as a climatechange hotspot, with climate change likely to lessen crop yields and production, with resultant impacts on food security. Climate change and security in africa 5 a succession of new wars across africa.
In particular, climate change may further enhance the food import dependence of most developing countries. Human use of fossil fuels is a significant source of these gasses. Effects and adaptation mechanisms in africa christopher. Climate change impacts on agriculture across africa. While efforts to achieve the goals outlined in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and paris agreement could drive positive changes following nearly a decade of economic growth across africa, climate change threatens to. Agriculture is considered as the largest main economic activities in africa and it. However, determining the regional impacts of climate change with any level of confidence is difficult. African climate change strategy page v climdev climate for development coi indian ocean commission comesa common market for eastern and southern africa. Climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation in. Climate change in africa pertains to aspects of climate change within the continent of africa.
According to the intergovernmental panel on climate change, africa is among the most vulnerable continents to climate change. Climate change and africa oxford academic oxford university. The global climate is the connected system of sun, earth and oceans, wind, rain and snow, forests, deserts and savannas, and everything people do, too. In africa, much work has gone into downscaling global climate models to understand regional impacts, but there remains a dearth of local level understanding of impacts and communities. African nations are among those most vulnerable to climate change. The ipccs fifth assessment report offers the following key messages for africa. Extreme climate variability since the 1970s has resulted in agricultural losses, recurrent. Water resources are subjected to high hydroclimatic variability over space and time, and are a key constraint on the continents continued economic development. The impact of climate change on human security in the sahel region of africa. Climate change impacts and adaptation in south africa. Available climate change evidence for africa suggests increasingly scarce water resources in central africa, declining and failing agricultural yields in the horn of. Malaria is sensitive to climate change in the sense that the vector that spreads malaria and the parasite that causes the disease are sensitive to climate variables especially rainfall and temperature. To have a better global model to understand climate change at the global level, africa is a key place and the international science community needs local data to upgrade that model. Pdf climate change management climate change adaptation.
West africa is one of the worlds most vulnerable regions to climate variability and change. Smallholder and subsistence farmers, pastoralists and fisherfolk in developing countries may not be able to cope with climate change effectively, due to reduced. Increasing temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns are already affecting livelihoods, food security, and economic and governance stability. South africa s response to climate change was presented. The solutions for a changing climate african development bank. Projected rainfall change over subsaharan africa in the. The perception of and adaptation to climate change in africa1 david maddison2 1 an earlier version of this working paper was published as ceepa discussion paper number 10. Weather, climate variability, and vulnerability of african. The perception of and adaptation to climate change in africa. This is evident from current experiences of extreme climatic events such as droughts and floods. Th e paper concludes with recommendations and a suggested way forward. Africas already high rates of undernutrition and infectious disease can be expected to increase compared to a scenario without climate change. With land and forest degradation accounting for more than 60 percent of co 2 emissions in africa, compared to about 30 percent in the developing world as a whole, africa could help mitigate climate change by more sustainable management of natural resources, especially land. Climate change will amplify existing stress on water availability in africa high confidence.
While slow progress with mitigation, especially in the energy sector, has garnered much. This brochure highlights afdbs response to climate change in africa by. Report africa can play a leading role in the fight against climate change ngozi okonjoiweala wednesday, january 8, 2020. Anthropogenic climate change is already a reality in africa, as it is elsewhere in the world. The challenges of climate change in africa itineraires. Adaptation will bring immediate benefits and reduce the impacts of climate change in africa adaptation is fundamentally about risk management adaptation experience in africa is growing africas climate is already changing and the impacts are already being felt.
Issues and options c limate change is expected to alter temperature, air movements and precipitation in various ways and to varying degrees across africa, and this will have important consequences for human health. In south africa, it is increasingly apparent that delays in responding to climate change over the past decades have jeopardized human life and livelihoods. What measures have been taken to fight against climate change in africa. The climate of a place, say new york, can be described as its rainfall, changing temperatures during the year and. Essay about the impact of climate change on africa. Essay about the impact of climate change on africa bartleby. Confidence in the projected impacts of climate change on agricultural systems has increased substantially since the first intergovernmental panel on climate change ipcc reports.
Abstract the impact of climate change on africa is likely to be severe because of adverse direct effects, high agricultural. Climate justice and basic human solidarity demand international cooperation to contain these risks. Gender and climate change africa gender, climate change and food security 2 policy brief 4 agriculture is central to the livelihoods of women it is now widely acknowledged that climate change impacts will not be genderneutral. Climate change management climate change adaptation in africa fostering resilience and capacity to adapt. Donnish journal of african studies and development, 12, 914. Spokesman for the group of 77 at cop21, south africa has decided, since. Climate change, migration, and conflict addressing complex crisis scenarios in the 21st century michael werz and laura conley january 2012.
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