Since the mid1980s, the african studies cen tre asc in leiden, the netherlands, has been studying climate change in west africa in a multidisciplinary. Improve coastal resilience in west africa through integrated planning and the strengthened capacity of local, national and regional frameworks. Adaptive capacity in the regional context 5 introduction in june 2009, unusually heavy seasonal rains began to fall in west africa. Country case studies of ghana and burkina faso by oli brown and alec crawford isbn 97818947849 international institute for. Climate change adaptation in western africa climatelinks. Climate change and climatic variability in west africa. Africa today and presenting a growing challenge in the region, as in many other parts of. Increasing temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns are already affecting livelihoods, food security, and. Climate change poses a clear danger to lives and livelihoods across africa.
We note that, for example in the sahel region, some degree of climate variation is expected over time, and it can be difficult to distinguish between this and variation caused by climate change. Climate change, agriculture and food security ccafs. Western africas socioeconomic development and environment. The studies on climate change vulnerability and adaptation in west africa this document is part of a series of studies produced by the african and latin american resilience to climate change arcc project that address adaptation to climate change in. Climate variability and change have impacted, and are continuing to impact, land cover in west africa. Climate change ipcc indicate the future trends likely to develop at the. Africa is commonly described as a climate vulnerable continent in which rainfall variability, hydrological extremes, and anthropogenic climate change have. The sahel and tropical west africa are hotspots of climate change under both rcp4. Wabicc will build local, national and regional capacity to generate and use climate. Exploring the impact of climate change on children in. Temperature projections over west africa for the end of the 21st century from both the cmip3. Rural livelihood, resilience, food security, climate change, finance, africa. It expands on a 2017 resolution linking the dramatic. Chapter 11 climate change department of environmental.
Water resources are subjected to high hydroclimatic variability over space and time, and are a key constraint. Ecowas economic community of west african states edf. Enhancing coastal resilience and the capacity for communities to adapt to, and mitigate climate change. Recent trends 35 decrease in mean precipitation, a lengthening of the dry spell and an increased intensity in extreme precipitation over west sahel cov ering. The effects of climate change on coastal erosion in west. The climate change projections for the sahel and west africa are complex and there is a high degree of uncertainty, but there is enough information within climate projections to inform robust, no regrets responses to the challenges that a changing climate. Although the research base is wide and growing every day, this fact sheet centers on a select group of themes in literature around gender and climate change in africa. Increased pressure on these resources from the rapidly growing population is compounded by the regions vulnerability to climate. To improve food security in west africa, sustained commitment 37 to investment in the agriculture sector will be needed to provide some protection against 38 global swings in both production and world markets. Evidence from ghana and burkina faso 39 oli brown and alec crawford environmental change.
Climate change and human health climate and impacts factsheet series, factsheet 5 of 7 factsheet series produced by sanbi, dea and giz in consultations with relevant sector stakeholders other factsheets in this series. Reduce deforestation, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss. One region of the world where the effects of climate change are being felt particularly hard is africa. Smallscale, highimpact policies for fighting climate change in 2017 1 africa unplugged. West africa biodiversity and climate change wabicc u. Marginalized ethnic groups and population density in west africa. Climate change and variability in ghana most countries in subsahara africa including ghana are very much vulnerable to climate change and its variability. Climate change and climatic variability in west africa since the mid1980s, the african studies centre asc in leiden, the netherlands, has been studying climate change in west africa in a. Keywords climate change impacts vulnerability subsaharan africa introduction africa has been identi. 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 africa s climate. Malaria is a major vectorborne parasitic disease transmitted to humans by anopheles spp mosquitoes. The coastal countries of west africa are also vulnerable to sea level rise resulting from global warming, leading to flooding and coastal erosion. Climate risk profile west africa global climate change. Adaptation, mitigation and governance challenges tional climate change negotiations can be remedied by concerted action on the part of african leaders in the copenhagen round of negotiations.
From community to national and regional levels, various strategies and policies are also being taken to guide actions and investment for climate smart agriculture in west africa. The effect of climate change on malaria transmission in africa has been controversial. In addition, changing knowledge sheet 6 the effects of climate change on coastal erosion in west africa key climate. West africa has been identified as a climate change hotspot, with climate change likely to lessen crop yields and production, with resultant impacts on food security. Here we present an overview of the impacts of climate change. The first of three books in ifpris climate change in africa series, west african agriculture and climate change. Climate change affecting stability across west africa and.
The region comprises a diversified agricultural base spread. Section 2 presents evidence on the impacts of climate change in africa, using both topdown integrated assessment models iams and bottomup sectoral studies to capture aspects of climate change impacts that are particularly relevant to africa. West africa covers an area of about 5 million square km. Climate change, agriculture and food security ccafs lead center. The population is about 290 million, with approximately 65% living in rural areas. Assessing the security implications of climate change for west africa. Environment and climate change response west africa. Climate change, the african renaissance, and panafricanism. Since the 2006 saeo, local and global research has advanced its understanding of the projected impacts of climate change.
A new survey suggests they are also the least prepared. How could climate change impact food security in africa. Climate free fulltext climate change and variability. The ipccs fifth assessment report offers the following key messages for africa. There are prolonged and intensified droughts in eastern africa. Agriculture is considered as the largest main economic activities in africa and it. Changes in climate extremes over west and central africa. African nations are among those most vulnerable to climate change. Climate change impacts on agriculture across africa. Climate change will amplify existing stress on water availability in africa high confidence. West and central africa are particularly threatened by climate change due to high climate variability, high reliance on rainfedagriculture and limited economic and institutional capacity to respond to climate variability and change. Approach wa bicc aims to improve conservation and climate resilient, low emission growth across west africa.
Climate change adaptation in western africa october 2011 climate variability and change are increasingly posing a threat to western africa s socioeconomic development and environment. Climate change, land degradation and desertification are expected to affect african countries. Climate change as a challenge to human security in africa 18 dan kuwali climate change. Afrobarometer surveyed more than 45,000 people in 34. Solutions for a changing climate african development bank. Ltas phase 1 methodology climate trends and scenarios for south africa climate change. Pdf climate change preparedness in west africa ruerd. Assessing the security implications of climate change for. The effects of climate change, from changing precipitation patterns to rising seas, will exacerbate the coastal erosion already affecting west africa. Since the 1970s, observations indicate significant changes in the regions climate. The effects of climate change on coastal erosion in west africa english abstract. The challenges of climate change in africa itineraires. However, direct environmental impacts observed by those surveyed, and attributed to climate change.
West african coast are expected to rise faster than the global average uemoa 2010. Pdf the west african climate has evolved in recent decades to respond to elevated anthropogenic greenhouse gas ghg forcing. Markets, climate change and food security in west africa. Climate change adaptation in western africa october 2011. Climate alliance ggca africa is experiencing the impacts of climate change, yet there is wide variation in the capacity of women and men to adequately cope with its effects. However, climate projections for west africa are not sufficiently. Because of the lack of economic, development, and institutional capacity, african countries are likely among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change ipcc, 2001. Food security threats facing 11 of the countries that make up west africa.
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