Africa's Development in a Changing Climate - Act Now, Act Together, Act Differently
Over the past ten years, Sub-Saharan Africa has made a great deal of progress in terms of economic growth. In fact, Africa has the potential to emerge as an exciting new center of growth in the evolving global economy. However, to continue on an accelerated growth path, the region needs to tackle climate variability and climate change, which now pose a daunting risk to growth, development, and poverty reduction. Climate is hardly a new factor in the regions history, but with global warming, Africas vulnerability is deepening, making it the most exposed region in the world to the impacts of climate change. The hard-won progress of recent years could be reversed with extreme weather,crop failures, and outbreaks of hunger and disease.
The Impacts of Africas changing climate
Natural fragility. Two-thirds of Sub-Saharan Africas surface area is desert or dry land, and the region is also home to many fragile terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. Climate projections for Africa presented in the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2007) include a likely average temperature increase of 1.5 to 4ﾰ C in this century, which is higher than the global average. Anticipated changes in rainfall patterns will be accompanied by an increase in droughts and floods, and sea level rise. Devastating floods have been reported across Sub-Saharan Africa. Flooding in Mozambique in 2000 cost the country an estimated $550 million, lowering national GDP by 1.5 percent.
Agriculture, food security, and energy.Rainfed agriculture the main safety net of poor people in rural areas employs about 70 percent of the population. Southern Africa will suffer particularly severe drops in yields by 2030 without adaptation measures. One study projects the almost total disappearance of land in Africa suitable for growing wheat by 2080 (Fischerand others, 2005). In fact, by then, as much as 9 to 20 percent of Sub-Saharan Africas arable land will become much less suitable for agriculture. Already, crop failure and livestock death are imposing significant losses. Finally, biomass provides 80 percent of the domestic primary energy supply.
To continue on an accelerated growth path, Africa needs to tackle climate variability and climate change, which now pose a daunting risk to growth, development, and poverty reduction. Click on link for a snapshot of why urgent action is needed in the region, particularly on the adaptation front.
Development / Accra / Ghana / Africa / Modernghana.com