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Impact of climate change on the continent of Africa
- Water issues: Life is regulated by access to water for agriculture ,
domestic use and hydroelectric power. Many large rivers e.g
Nile,cause potential for conflict between users. Demand outstrips
supply of water for 25% of Africans. Poverty is the reason why they
don't have access to clean water.
- Food insecurity: 70% of population are subsistence farmers, many will be unable
to feed themselves if water supplies dry up or crops fail. Increased locust plagues
may also threaten food supplies.
- Natural resources: Poor people especially living in marginal
environments, depend directly on wild plants and animals to
support their way of life. Loss of bioviersity due to climate
change will threaten them.
- Africa is the continent that makes least contribution to global warming, yet is must vulnerable to climate change. Temperatures are expected to rise
by 3-4 degrees above the mean global change. Rainfall likely to increase in the equatorial region but decrease to the north and south of that band.
- Why is Africa so vulnerable to climate
change
- Poverty: Lack of adaptation e.g growing different
crops and Mitigation e.g reduce the impact of climate
change through flood defences
- Many parts of Africa in debt to MEDCS such as the
WB, IMF. They raise the money by selling cash crops
e.g Tea, soya, cocoa, coffee, oppose to growing food
causing Africa to starve.
- Coastal erosion and sea level rise cause these
issues to develop.
- High rates of HIV/AIDS, in common places,
means that they are unable to work
- Poverty: Lack of adaptation e.g growing different
crops and Mitigation e.g reduce the impact of climate
change through flood defences
- Why is Africa so vulnerable to climate
change
- Health: Vector borne diseases e.g malaria and water
borne diseases e.g diarrhoea could increase with climate
change. Moreover, 80% of health services rely on wild
plants for remedies which are under threat.
- Development of coastal zones: Movement of environmental refugees from
countryside puts pressure on coastal zones, especially in north & West
Africa. Refugees set up home in shanty towns e.g Lagos. Also, 60% of
Africans live in coastal zones, many at risk of Coastal erosion. The threats
likely to come from sea level rise, casuing flooding. Most of the continents
infrastructure, roads, bridges and buildings would be lost.
- Desertification: Major destroyer of grasslands. It is increased
by unreliability or decreased rainfall
- Poverty: Two thirds of LEDCS are located in Africa, An unjust trading system forces
many countries to sell their exports (e.g Mali cotton) at low prices to compete with
subsidised European and North American products
- -55 countries in Africa, in 2007 2/3 were
amongst 50 poorest countries
- -34% of the population aged 15-24 were
illiterate, many counties owe millions in debt
- In Kericho, Kenya temperatures have
increased by 1985
- Coral bleeching a rise in sea temperatures and increase in acidity
of the oceans casuses choral bleaching
- South Africa Vs Chad South Africa
GDP per capita, $11,300, Chad
$2,000 Life expectancy 49,
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